Some of you have been following my son’s shipping out to the military to begin training as a US Army Ranger. Over the past week or two, I’ve been struck by his maturity (in spite of just being 18 years old), after having been diagnosed with a knee ailment that will most likely ultimately result in his being medically discharged. In the wake of the dashing of his dreams (he has wanted to be a Ranger for 2 years, and he’s been planning to join the army since he was a sixth-grader), he has turned to the Lord for strength. Books like, “Don’t Waste your Life” (by John Piper) and “40 Days of Purpose (by Rick Warren), along with the Bible, have given him solace. Songs like “Storm” (by Lifehouse) have helped encourage him. And ultimately, trust in God’s sovereignty have helped him realize that, “When a person is knocked down to his knees, the only place to which he can turn is the Lord.” He’ll probably be home in two weeks. He had no “plan B.” He was hoping to invest 20 years in the military. After lots of brainstorming, he’ll probably try to begin a 4-year college degree. (In fact, it looks like we have him set up to start his freshman year this fall.)

Where do you turn in the midst of a storm? What books, what songs, what scripture passages have meant the most to you when things have gone differently than you hoped? How do you survive? Please click “Comments” under this item on the web and give your input on how to make it through the storm.

For your quick reference, below are the words to the “Lifehouse” song that has meant a lot to my son. Click the big arrow immediately below to see Jason, the leader of Lifehouse, performing the song live.

Storm
by Lifehouse

How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean’s shapeless form
Water’s getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I could see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be all right
And everything will be all right

I know you didn’t bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Because I’m so used to living underneath the surface

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be all right
And everything will be all right

(Just click “comments” below to comment on this item.)
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[Edited Aug. 2:]
After Tony’s comment below, I remembered this song by Steven Curtis Chapman. Speaks directly into this topic. Thanks again for your input.

God is God
by Steven Curtis Chapman


And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through
Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

[Edited Aug. 3:]
Thanks to Commenter Ed, from Topeka, who suggested “A Living Prayer” by Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Ed also suggested Chris Tomlin’s and Matt Redman’s “How Can I Keep From Singing?”

(Thanks Ed!)

Then there’s David Crowder’s “Come Thou Fount”, requested by my son at Ft. Benning:

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