When storms come, dead things tend to float to the surface. Sometimes it’s true in life, and it’s certainly true in our spiritual walk. Let me explain.

Recently the hubster and I traveled to New Orleans. It’s an interesting place full of culture, art, history, jazz music, and some of the best cuisine you’ve ever tasted. From the French Quarter to Frenchman Street there’s plenty to keep you busy. But, my favorite thing to do there – and really everywhere I travel is to find out about the history. And that is where I learned that dead things float to the surface during storms.

If you aren’t familiar with how they do things, let me help. New Orleans is actually below sea level, so the water table is very high. The early settlers initially tried to bury those who passed away underground, as they always had. But, when storms rolled in, the water tables rose as well. And, unfortunately so did their recently buried relatives.

They eventually figured out a different way to care for the departed. I’ll tell you more about that later, but this brings me to my point. I believe much the same thing happens to us as well.

Here’s what I mean.

Just like me, I assume you occasionally have difficult or stressful things happen – we all do. Well sometimes when the “storms” happen in our lives, the junk we’ve buried come raising up to the surface. And that, my friends, is exactly what I recently experienced.

You see, for the last four months, I’ve been writing a book. It’s a long time dream and something I have known I was called to do. It should have been a wonderful experience. And it was, except when I got to the hard stuff about my past.

I’ve long since dealt with my childhood experiences. I know who I am, and more importantly whose I am. But, the words I wrote, shook me. Still, when I wrote those words down, a sadness and anxiety seemed to rise up.nIt was a bit shocking when I started to notice my emotions getting the better of me. I didn’t know why, but I knew I didn’t like what I was experiencing.

It just did not make sense. In 2 Corinthians 5: 17 and Isaiah 42:9, God’s promises that through him we are made new – the old stuff is gone. So, I knew this wasn’t old junk. It had to be something I hadn’t dealt with yet.

I needed an answer, so, I did what I always do, I took it to the one who made me and knows me best. The Bible says if we ask God for anything – according to his will – he will give it to us. Well, guess what? God is the one who makes us whole, so it is his will. (1 Peter 2:24,1 John 5:14, 15) And, one of his names declares that he heals; “Jehovah-Rapha” means God who heals.

So, I prayed. I prayed on my own, and I prayed with others. Prayer is the best thing we can do. It’s funny though how many times we say “well, I guess I’ll pray,” like it’s a last-ditch option. (Psalm 5: 14, Psalm 34:15, Daniel 9:18, 1 James 4:3) I leaned in and it worked. I found the answer and was able to move forward with my writing.

Long ago, before I walked through healing the wounds of my past, something like this would have taken over my life for months. I would have let it sweep over me and take over. I’m different now, though. My journey has taught me that when dead things rise to the top, you have to deal with them.

And that is the same thing that happened in New Orleans’ history. They had a problem that kept rising up to the surface. Just like me, they figured out that storms raise the dead. What they used to do didn’t work, so they found a new way to care for dead things.

We can’t avoid stress or trouble. When those seasons come, it’s likely there will always be stuff to bubbled to the surface. What I learned is not to let the dead stuff fester. Let it rise, but deal with it.