Brainstorms

Brain: the controlling center of the nervous system
Storm: a disturbance in the air or a sudden strong attack

The two primary things that make life such a challenge are the facts that we cannot predict our circumstances and we cannot control what other people do or say. Life is full of unexpected tension. There will be some experiences that pleasantly surprise us and some that disturbingly threaten us. People will let us down and lift us up, and through it all we must manage to hang on to our joy. If we’re honest, there are "brainstorms" taking place within each of our minds every day. We mentally finish conversations and arguments; we vent our frustrations and we play out scenarios over and over again, but the ending never changes. Too much of this will lead us down a path that simply breeds more pain and disillusionment. If we aren’t able to harness the storm in our mind, the wind and the waves will eventually reach the shore of our actions. The psalmist writes, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." The only way to experience transformation is to allow God access to our thoughts. We need to let Him calm the storm.