I am sitting in my garage this morning watching and listening to the rain and thunder. When atmospheric conditions are just right, rain, wind and lighting are produced. Sometimes the storms are mild and pass within minutes. Other storms are bigger, longer and have the potential to do extreme harm to lives, homes and property. This morning, this storms seems to be mild. A little thunder, a little rain, and not much wind.
When we look back at our lives we often find times that were stormy. Whether it was a health issue, a death of a loved one, work related, church related, etc, we see those times as difficult. The storm is never fun to go through. It is filled with uncertainty and often our mind is filled with anxious thoughts because we really don't know what is coming especially when the storms come at night.
I don't know why storms come and do the damage they do but they do some positive results. After tornados or floods we see people rise to the occasion and help each other like never before. Agencies come together and provide care to those most affected by the storm. People helping people during the difficult time of life.
I don't always know why storms come into our lives. I do understand that God has purposes for the Christ-follower and that these storms cause us to be and display our dependence upon Him. But why the storms?
I believe the first reason is because of the curse of sin. Sin brings death and destruction and because we live in a fallen world there are going to be storms, both physically and otherwise. Secondly, there are storms in our lives to make us more like Christ. As I reflect upon the storms that Shelly and I have gone through, they have made me more compassionate, more sensitive and more understanding. When Jesus would see those in pain or hurting he had compassion on them, he was moved by their situation. His life on earth allows him to know and understand what it is like to be human (Heb. 4). Thirdly, the storms of our life allow us to comfort those with the comfort we have received from Christ (2 Cor 1). As we each go through our storm of life, at some point we move past it far enough that we can come alongside someone else who is experiencing something similar and be a comfort to them. Fourthly, in the book of James he states that the times of adversity come to test our faith which builds perseverance so that we will be complete in our faith, lacking nothing.
Storms are never easy to go through. With the Lord, we know we can face anything that comes our way. And lastly...they come to pass. The storms do pass and when they do they reveal a truth that remains...Jesus is there shining bright. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Right now the storm is still here. I hear the thunder and see the rain. But just beyond the clouds the sun is shining bright and when the storm passes, the sun will be revealed. May we never forget that Jesus is Lord over all things. As a song says "when I can't see His hand trust His heart".
