Fishing in a Storm

It’s been raining today here. Actually storming most of the day & precisely the kind of rain that makes you question the stability of your “fishing cabin” you rented on Florida’s largest lake. And it most definitely makes you question why you paid so much for a “designer” dog that’s technically a mutt, just to get his red paws insanely black from the mud building up outside the front screen door.

But the kids & their daddy had everything ready to fish.

They stayed up late getting everything “just right”, whatever that means. To me, the one who doesn’t fish, it translates into 152 trips to Walmart AND the bait store, but I don’t gripe or mention anything about that. Not to them anyway.

Daddy decided later in the afternoon (after hemhawing around at least 2 hours) to go fishing regardless of the tropical storm-like conditions. The 2 middles declared there’s way more fun to be had in the rain on a little bass boat, than here in our “fishing cabin, left with me." Rude. 🤨

Joel had a slight case of “Doubting Thomas” & cleverly laid out some frozen fish from the last mess of crappie they had caught because he was, and I quote, “…eating fried crappie & cheese grits, no matter how bad this weather is.”

Smart kid. I claim that resourcefulness trait... 100%.

But his daddy & I teased him nonetheless, because obviously, we’re his parents & that’s absolutely in our job description. We said he didn’t seem to have a whole lot of faith in their catching abilities, after all. He remarked on the “storm” & while we all joked a bit, they headed off with way more money in lures and bait than we could possibly recoup in crappies. (Ps... I’m slowly but surely learning that “fishing” is not about saving money AT ALL).

Fast forward to them busting through the door excitedly and hurriedly, practically tripping over the barely-there 80’s linoleum flooring, explaining just how many fish they had caught.

They had time to tell me their fishing tales and then I looked at Joel & said, “But you had me lay out that old, previously caught frozen fish?” Dad chimes in & said, “I told him the exact same thing.” Then Joel  proudly said, “Yeah! We don’t even need ‘em!!

I was nervous because of the storm...” he trailed off.

So I said...

“You mean God brought you ALL THAT FISH (y’all. They seriously had a good mess, like 16 or more, easily.)

IN

A

STORM?”

Fresh fish? New fish?

And so it was. Just like that we weren’t talking about fish anymore.

The Holy Ghost snatched my heart & I said, “Hey if I were the preaching kind, that would preach!”

And if you’re still reading…

I have a friend who was waiting on something VERY important & it’s not coming. Now she’s left to wonder how God is gonna make that budget work.

It’s storming where she is.

I’ve got another friend who’s best friend has just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It’s storming up where she is, too.

Someone else shared with me that her husband was just placed under the care of hospice. Her husband was a pastor in their small Baptist church his whole career.

But I’m here to say, those fish will come. Might even be something new and different. Perhaps not even exactly what you're praying for or believing in but an answer, nonetheless. WHAT YOU ARE PRAYING FOR will be answered some way or another. He will provide. HE IS your provider. He doesn’t care about the storm. He does not care about the conditions that are entirely WRONG and non-conducive to solving your biggest problems.

He wants you to keep your eyes on HIM

NOT

THE

WAVES.

Ok. I’m done. Because I ain’t a preacher & it ain’t even Sunday morning, yet.

But I won’t ever NOT share what He has done and continues to do in our lives.

NEVER.