STORMS

STORMS

When you are flying in a plane and see approaching storm clouds the pilot usually comes on the intercom and tells you to keep your seatbelts fastened because of 'bumpy or unstable air'. Even though these poofy white clouds look so soft and beautiful at times going inside or above or around them can cause the plane to shake or bounce a little bit. A little scary for many who do not like flying and somewhat unnerving for even those of us who do. But storms are part of life. I have a journal that says 'without rain there would not be rainbows' and 'when it storms you are bound to get a little muddy."

Storms of life can come in all forms. The unexpected phone call bringing bad news, financial problems, home foreclosures, sicknesses and diseases, job layoffs, getting fired, misunderstandings with friends, death of a friend or family member, or perhaps a bad medical diagnosis. They are there and they are part of life. It is how we deal with them to get us up and beyond these 'storm clouds' and back to smooth sailing.

Think about all that happened to Job and his family yet Job still praised God.(See Job 1:1-2:10)Psalms 34: 17-19 says "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken." Hebrews 4:14-16 reads "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Cling to God during the storms of life. Keep praising him even though you may not feel like it. When we are beaten down or depressed it is pretty hard to sing praises but that is what we need to do to get beyond it. God can change you and perfect you as you go through the storms of life if you can only trust him.(Read Psalm 56).
PRAYER: Lord God my heart trusts in you today. Let me be a witness today to those who are suffering or hurting. Guide me through each days' little storms so I can be more like you. Develop me and teach me what you want me to know during these storms of life.