I read something this week that gave me pause:

Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while you are going through your own storm.

I pondered that for quite some time. It permeated my heart because life has wonderful moments of peace, joy and rapture sandwiched between the storms of life. It’s easy to get caught up in the trial of the moment and miss out on the blessing of reaching out to help another human being in need.

Or even worse, instead of reaching out, you could lash out at others when they share their teenie tiny little challenge with you. Doesn’t it always seem that right at the second you get the fortieth rejection letter, your crit partner calls and fusses because they only got a four book deal when they just knew they’d get six?!

In the midst of the storm, it’s easy to miss opportunity to help others. When that happens, two people lose: You and the person you were intended to bless. Life is going to happen. Storms are going to crop up. If you live in Florida in August, they’d pop up out of nowhere in an instant. What you do during the storm is entirely up to you. You and you alone have the choice of what you will do in the storm. No one else. You.

While on the mission field in Guatelmala, I suffered a serious fracture to my lower forearm. It was excruciatingly painful. To make matters worse, there were two additional factors I had to consider. First, I was in full clown costume. Anyone who laid eyes on me was expecting me to be, well, happy. Which brings me to the second thing. Moments after the injury occurred, I was surrounded by an ocean of children who’d turned out to see Rebo the Clown.

I was in quite the storm but I prayed and mustered all my inner strength. By God’s grace I was able to minister to these little ones in the midst of my own storm. I shudder to this day to think what memory they would have had of a sad, crying, hurting clown.

You’re probably going through a storm of some sort right now. Hopefully, it’s not a broken bone but perhaps equally as painful. But in the midst of the storm you’re battling, if you can just look out around you, you’ll see opportunity to be a blessing. And blessing others will give you the strength to get through the storm. I promise.

Look beyond your storm. Bless others in the midst of your storm. Things will change.

Have you been a blessing during your own life storm? How did that make you feel? Share it here!