The Word for Wednesday: When the Storms of Life Are Raging

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Life Application Bible for Students

Recently I've had a few people contact me with urgent prayer requests from illness to employment. If you know me, I will drop everything to lift someone up in prayer because I believe in it. I’m  not going to brow beat anyone about my faith but I will state confidently here and now that I believe there is a God of the Bible, that He is an active spirit being and He is in my corner. John 1:1-4 “Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is – nothing exists that he didn't make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind.”  Life Application Bible for Students

If I have in-depth knowledge about anything it’s storms. I live in South Fla and yearly we have hurricane season. Some years are quieter than others but those years that are active as the weather man puts it can reek major havoc!! The damage and destruction created upsets lives for a long long time. There are many types of storms we face. Financial. Health issues. Our career. Family. Children if you are a parent. Aging parents. Education. Car trouble (raises hand). Marriage. Relationships. Dating. Self-esteem. The list is extensive.

What do you do when a storm or these storms show up at your front door uninvited? Do you do what I use to do and fall apart? Shut down? Sink into depression? Binge eat? Shop? Or do you seek out someone who can encourage you and uplift you? Isn't it wonderful to have people in your corner who can help you through dark times and be a leaning post so you don’t go off the deep end? Lemme pause here and thank my circle of friends and loved ones and therapist (I’ll be addressing this in another post) who helped me navigate some of those bone crushing life experiences that flung me to my knees but didn't destroy me. AND I LEARNED TO PRAY. #win

What I learned when these people had to go back to their families, or my mom went back home which is 6 hours away or folks grew tired of my complaints was that I had a gracious and loving God on my side who knew what I was going through and wanted to help. My trials weren't to push me away from him or destroy me but to build character and give me these stories with nuggets to share here with you on Wednesdays in hope that you are encouraged.

The story of Job (see book by the same name) taught me a great deal about life happening and various outcomes. During the first year while mourning my Grandmother’s transition Job 7 became my favorite chapter. Here was a man who didn't understand why a plethora of bad things kept happening to him. He was doing what was right in the eyes of God. But his world was destroyed. Nothing was left but his nagging wife and finger pointing friends. Imagine that! The story doesn't end on this note, praise Jesus, lolol. Instead, Job learned how necessary his relationship with God was, how strong his faith could become and did through events that were devastating but only temporarily. Ultimately, he was given back all he had lost in a greater sum (see Job 42).

So today if you are in a storm. Grab a golf umbrella (these are much larger than standard umbrella and provide more protection) aka the Word of God aka his promises and dance in the rain. You aren't forgotten. God knows where you are, who you are, who you can become and what he’s placed inside of you. He knows you can survive it all. “However, we possess this precious treasure in human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7  The Amplified Bible

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