“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm: ‘Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.'” Job 40:6-7 (NIV)
Have you ever experienced a storm so big, that it seemed to bring Not only the major storm, but many, many smaller storms? …..storms before it, then around it, and after it?
The storms cause you to cry out to God and beg….. “Make it go away God!”
But the storms just continue to brew……..
Then you find yourself asking, “Will it EVER end?”
Not many years ago, every part of my life was being stormed on…. and where was God?
I knew that He was with me, but it felt like God had stopped looking out for me.
Everybody else seemed to have sunshine, while I had lightning, thunderous, windy, and rainy storms.
I would ask myself, “Did God forget about me? Does He not have blessings for me? What reason am I even here?”
I was in despair, but eventually I began to understand what God was doing.
If you look around and see everyone else basking in sunshine, don’t become envious or jealous. Know that God is doing a mighty work in you in the midst of the storm.
Lightning, thunder, wind, and rain all serve a distinct purpose.
Lightning…
Without lightning, we don’t notice God’s light in our own lives.
Have you noticed that lightning is always seen before the storm?
It flashes to remind us that God is still here and He is getting ready to capture our attention.
Thunder…
Without thunder, we may not see the lightning.
Have you ever noticed that thunder roars simultaneously with lightning?
And thunder definitely captures our attention. It causes us to pay attention to our surroundings and seek shelter.
We start asking questions like: Where are we in life? Who are we surrounded by? What are we doing with our lives?
Thunder wakes us up from our dormant routine. The loud banging helps us take inventory of what is most important and redirects our focus to find refuge in God’s safe place for us. His will for our lives.
Wind…
Without wind, the chastening of God is not accomplished in your life. The chastening allows God to get rid of everything that staggers growth.
How much stuff are you surrounded by that is not needed? How much time do you spend on unnecessary things?
The wind slowly blows the unessential away so you can get back on the narrow path, the path God wants you on…. towards Him.
Rain…
Without rain, you are not able to sprout up new leaves and bear fruit. Yes, sunshine is necessary for growth too…. but how long can you live in the sunshine without the rain?
Eventually, the new sprout will wither up and die without water. The rain nourishes you again.
So…. if you start to see glimpses of lightning, hear thunder pounding, sense strong winds blowing, and feel the hard rain pouring down…. ponder what you just learned about storms. It may give you a new perspective and give you the courage to thank God for your storm. Please let God grow you in the midst of your storm.
God bless! Love you all!!
