Frozen and Waiting for Power

Posted On February 21, 2021

“The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.”

Job 37:10 NIV

This past week was a cold one for a lot of us. Where I live we had record-breaking low temperatures, ice and snow, multiple water-main breaks, and days without power. As I looked over the frozen landscape of our town — wondering when the power would come back on, wondering when the water would be restored, wondering when the weather would clear — I was reminded of just how much we are at the mercy of our Lord, the Ruler of all nature:

“He sends his orders to the world —
how swiftly his word flies!
He sends the snow like white wool;
he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
He hurls the hail like stones.
Who can stand against his freezing cold?
Then, at his command, it all melts.
He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.”

Psalm 147:15-18 NLT

And, I have to admit, I couldn’t get the theme from the Disney movie Frozen out of my head. Yes, I know . . . sorry. At least you don’t have to listen to me try to sing it. My poor family was not spared that. If you will bear with me, I have included a video of the song which inspired the Frozen theme. Here is Vuelie filmed in the Holmenkollen Chapel in Oslo, Norway . . .

This song represents a chanting style of singing and doesn’t really have words. Basically, the title just means “Earth Song.” Because of its association with Frozen, however, it reminds me of the cold. So I believe it serves as a good backdrop for this week’s post. There are times in life that we find ourselves stuck in the cold waiting for power. It may not be a physical chill but a cooling of our hope or of our faith. We feel lost or afraid. We face doubts. We feel powerless. Even the disciples, who had just witnessed Jesus’ miracles and His resurrection, struggled with this.

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”

Matthew 28:16-17 NIV

Max Lucado says, “We find odd comfort in the lingering doubts of the disciples. For we still have our own.” So what did Jesus say to His doubting disciples? In Acts 1:4 (CEV), Jesus gives them these instructions: “Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.” He told them to wait. Wait in the cold for power. He promised it would come. This was not an easy thing to do. Jerusalem was not a safe place for Jesus’ disciples. Their instincts probably told them to run, to get out of the city and go into hiding. But they mustered their courage and did as Jesus instructed.

“When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Acts 1:13-14 NIV

“I’m sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven.”

Luke 24:49 GW

They waited. And they prayed. Huddled together in the upper room, facing the cold of fear and doubt, with no information about how long they would have to wait, they joined together in prayer. They had no idea what to expect, but they trusted their Lord to fulfill His promise of power. Was it worth it? Here is what happened . . .

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Acts 2:4 NIV

Tongues of fire came from heaven and rested on each one of them, obliterating the icy chill of fear and rekindling their faith. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples received the supernatural power they needed to spread the Gospel. Jews from many nations had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. When they heard their native languages being spoken by these Galileans, they were amazed and bewildered. Peter addressed the crowd that had gathered, telling them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:41 (NIV) tells us: “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Three thousand new believers were added that day, all because the disciples followed Christ’s instuctions to wait.

“Doubters became prophets.  Peter preached, and people came, and God opened the floodgates on the greatest movement in history.  It began because the followers were willing to do one thing: wait in the right place for power.”

Max Lucado

“If you are waiting on God, you are watching for God, searching for God, hoping in God.  Great promises come to those who do.”

Max Lucado

When we are stuck in the cold, full of fear and doubt, losing hope, God tells us to wait. Wait on Him and trust Him to fulfill His promises to us. When we do, He renews our strength. As Max Lucado reminds us, we need to wait in the right place by staying honest, faithful, and true and by getting along with those around us. And while we’re waiting, we can pray. Power will come to us when we do.

“For ten days the disciples prayed.  Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls.”

Max Lucado

“Pray without ceasing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV

Max Lucado reminds us that constant prayer doesn’t need to be complicated. We just need to think of prayer as an awareness of God’s presence. Remind ourselves that He is there, no matter where we go, no matter what we do. For me, unceasing prayer means changing all of my mental monologues into dialogues with God. Instead of thinking, I am so worried about this problem, I can pray, God, help me deal with this problem. Rather than thinking, I don’t know what to do, I can pray, Lord, show me what to do. In place of thoughts of longing for what I don’t have, I can offer prayers of gratitude for what I do have. It takes practice to form this habit, but the payoff is huge. Because when we stay connected to God, we never have to worry about a power shortage. When we are plugged in to Him, our source of power is never cut off.

“Jesus demonstrated power over sickness, nature, demons, and even death many times in his ministry. But this wasn’t just a way to show everyone how powerful he was, or a flashy way to gain more followers — Jesus’ miracles show his profound love and compassion for people. Certainly his miracles are proof that he is the Son of God, but they also prove that he sees the needs of his people and has both the power and the will to help them. This is no less true today — become a person of prayer and watch God transform you and the world around you through his power.”

Chronological Life Application Study Bible

This week’s Scripture passages remind us of the power we have access to when we stay connected to God. There is a printer-friendly pdf version below the image. I have also included another version of the Frozen song, Eatnemen Vuelie. In this adaptation, over the original theme of “Earth Song,” there is a much more powerful theme:

“Fairest Lord Jesus, 
Ruler of all nature, 
O Thou of God and man the Son, 
Thee will I cherish, 
Thee will I honor, 
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.”

“Fairest Lord Jesus” – Author Unknown

“Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.”

Psalm 150:1-2 NIV

References:

• “Cantus – Vuelie.” YouTube, uploaded by Cantus VEVO, 26 May 2017, https://youtu.be/schn6IIJd-U.
• Chronological Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2012.
• “Eatnemen Vuelie (Frozen Theme Inspiration) – Sissel & The Tabernacle Choir.” YouTube, uploaded by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, 21 October 2019, https://youtu.be/jXDshwcAE3o.
• “Holy Spirit Comes.” YouTube, uploaded by Peace Way Christian Center, 20 April 2015, https://youtu.be/Gt16nVZ0qSQ.
• Lucado, Max. Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch. W Publishing Group, 2004.

Images:

• Snowflake featured image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
• Frost image by Johanna Pakkala from Pixabay
• Frozen Branches image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
• Candle image by Giacomo Zanni from Pixabay
• Flames image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
• Sky image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
• Melting Snow image by Fred T. from Pixabay
• Winter Sunrise image by Boern from Pixabay