WSR REPORT: RELATIONSHIP PREPARATION

Good Evening Friends

Tuesday Evening –

Fittingly, the weather here in Virginia Beach is looking … a little stormy

And, while the rain has not begun, the lightning has

For some reason it feels calming to me tonight though

As promised, we will be focusing on the preparation aspect of managing storms

At the outset of this week, we were advised to prepare –

prepare for a challenging week with respect to COVID

Today, the USA experienced its highest one day COVID-19 death toll

My test came back negative by the way

And, while I am thankful for my result, it filled me with profound sadness.

My thought – as I reached for my inhaler today, unable to breathe?

                COVID-19 is one thousand times worse for so many people

My heart breaks for their suffering and that so many are passing from here to eternity without the benefit of having their loves ones close. They may not even fully understand why their loved ones are not present when they need them most.

Now – please understand what I am saying here

The families and friends of these COVID victims are left without options

This is not the type of relationship testing I am talking about

This is an uncommon storm which is challenging the entire globe

Yet – most of our storms are not to this magnitude

I only have an upper respiratory infection –

Yet my friends, my sons, my dad and even one of my pastors have made a point to check in on me

RELATIONSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

THE STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIPS ARE REVEALED IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

For normal storms, there are steps of preparation which can be employed –

especially with respect to relationships

In the book When Storms Rage, within the Storm Management Checklist, it is noted:

¨ Determine escape routes. Naturally, the first place we should run to for escape is straight into the arms of Jesus.  Proverbs, chapter 18 tells us, ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.’ However, God also provides us human resources that we can access. Figure out what options are available to you. What are the plans for a financial situation, a breakdown in the family or even the death of a loved one? Your ‘escape routes’ should be tested to ensure that they are reliable and easily accessed in the event a storm strikes.

¨ Make sure you have an out-of-state friend … a point of contact – this is the recommendation from some storm preparation websites. This is advisable from a spiritual standpoint as well. Establish a storm support network. In the event of a critical situation or ‘power failure’ on your part (not God’s), you will want to have at least one confidant who is removed from your circumstance, who can be free of emotion and provide objective perspective. You will soon realize that you cannot and should not talk to everyone about the storm that is raging in your life. Connect with someone who is grounded in the faith and who will speak words of encouragement and faith versus doubt and fear. Find someone who can keep a confidence and candidly relay the truth of God’s Word.

Note however, that it is not wise to wait until a storm arises to establish these important associations. Invest in your relationships with friends and family by committing your personal time today, when the seas are calm.

One Final Word

As with anything of value, relationships take time

They are an essential part of one’s ability to withstand the storms of life

And it is essential to not just know who the people are that you can depend on;

It is essential to be the kind of the person that people can also depend upon in a storm

We work on our vertical relationship with the LORD

We also work on our horizontal relationships with one another

We are all in this together –

Have a Blessed Evening & Stay Safe