Rogue Waves #10

Rogue Waves will come. There’s no way to avoid or stop them. It’s part of life to experience both the good and bad, the highs and lows. But you can prepare yourself for the aftermath. In this final post of the “Rogue Wave” series I’ll make some practical suggestions for dealing with Rogue Waves. I also want to leave you with hope for life after the wave subsides.

First, don’t isolate yourself. It’s the worst thing you can do because hard times are when you most need emotional support. Reach out to people through phone calls or over a cup of coffee.

Second, talk about what happened and how you’re reacting to it. You’ll have to bring up the topic because people assume you don’t want to talk about it. The truth is that the more you talk about it the more you process the events intellectually and emotionally.

Third, join a support group of people who are undergoing or have undergone the same experience as you. There’s nothing better than to know that you are not the only one going through your trial.

Fourth, if you become “stuck,” go see a Christian counselor. Talk to your friends or pastor and ask them to recommend a counselor. The best people to ask are those who have gone to counseling themselves.

Finally, remember that life will go on. Eventually the storm will ease and the waves will be calm once more. Above all else, remember that God doesn’t waste any experience. Perhaps He’s clarifying the direction your life will take or leading you in a brand new direction. I know this is true from personal experience.

Job 42:12 states, “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” God gave Job seven other sons and 3 other daughters – the same number he had before the Rogue Waves. He also gave Job twice as many sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys as before. God blessed Job twice as much in his second half of life.

At age 58 I’m well into the second half of my life. And I can tell you from personal experience that when the Rogue Wave hits … and after you recover … God blesses you twice as much in the years ahead. Although I would give anything to have my wife and loved ones back, God had a different plan … and it’s a good plan.

Shortly before my wife died God unmistakably and surprisingly called me to go to Angola, Africa. When I told my wife she said, “I know He is. And If He’s calling you, you better go.” She died a week later.

In the days and months following that first Rogue Wave, the one thing that kept me going was that for some reason God had called me to go to Angola, and my wife had commissioned me to go. So I went, and my life will never be the same again.

Since that trip God has sent me to Angola a second time, as well as to Zambia, Honduras, and Germany. And most recently God sent me to Russia to videotape a seminary course about spiritual gifts that will be distributed to 22 countries. I never expected to be serving overseas, but that’s where God has been sending me – and I’m grateful to Him for this ministry.

You serve a good and gracious God who loves you more than you could ever know or imagine. He is with you in the good times … and when the Rogue Wave hits. In the midst of the storm say these words aloud: “I am a treasured child of the Most High God.” And when times are good, remind yourself again: “I am a treasured child of the Most High God.” To God be the glory, Amen.