The Storms of Life...
It’s Good Friday today! It know it looks like life has taken such an unexpected “detour” in all our lives right now... but I want you to know that God knows exactly what we are going through and He is there, with His saving grace and mercy for all of us!
We just finished watching our church online for Good Friday services and today we are reminded of the sacrifice Jesus willingly made for all of us thousands of years ago on the cross. He was willing to come down to earth to obey His Father, suffer humiliation and pain, die a sinner’s death on the cross, so that WE may have life! And not just for believers. He did on that cross for even those who mocked Him then and hate Him now. He did it ALL so that we would see how much God loves us, wants to rescue us and transform us with the power of His redeeming grace and mercy!
No matter your circumstances, your geographical position, or your place in life… The message of Jesus Christ is of HOPE!
Today I wanted to share a devotional I wrote for the ladies who would have been in Paris with me today. Yes, we are all home and wondering exactly why this is where we are right now, but we have been getting together virtually via Zoom and I shared this devotional with them yesterday and then we created a fun watercolor Parisian Cafe Scene. (I’ll share what we did at the bottom of this post)
Last Sunday our pastor talked about the “Storms of Life” and that inspired me to write this devotional. You can follow it along like some of my other devotionals and reflect on it by journaling in your notebook at the end.
The Storms of Life:
To start off, I want to explain that Biblically speaking, when we say the “Storms of life” we are talking about an analogy for the trials we face in our lives.
We all face trials…it’s a given. Sure we all would love to have a life that is without hardships, but I don’t know where we got this idea that life could be perfect and without trials? Maybe it stems from childhood and our sin nature of wanting everything to go our way? Maybe it comes from great advertising schemes that tell us that “if you had this “THING” your life would be perfect!” But in John 16:33 Jesus says: “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
There are many verses in scripture that talk about trials. We may not want to accept it that life comes with trails, but I think the sooner we realize life’s not about smooth sailing, the sooner we will figure out how to handle the storms when they come.
We will also see that these storms reveal what’s inside of us:
Do we stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ or the shifting sand of culture and this world we live in?
Let’s read from a few verses in Psalms:
Psalm 46: 1-3 says:”God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.”
and vs 10 says: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”
Psalm 56 says: “When I am afraid I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
These talk about trouble and fear… hardships in life, but that God is our refuge and our Helper! He is the One we should put our trust in. I want to point out here that it talks about being afraid, or having fear. I think we sometimes feel bad if fear plays into our lives. But fear is an emotion, and God gave us our emotions, so fear is normal to experience. It’s not an emotion we want to stay in, but it can be used by God to grow us in our faith as we begin to trust in God.
Our Pastor talked about this last Sunday and I wanted to share with you the types of storms we face in life and I think they will help us to see Purpose in them.
Storms reveal things in our life:
Correcting Storms. Sometimes the storms of life are so we will get right with God. I think of Jonah in this example. He was in a real storm because He did not want to do what God was asking Him to do. Sometimes these storms are of our own doing. Our choices lead to our sinful rebellion against God. They remind us that we need God and we were created to be dependent on the ONE that is greater than ourselves. They cause us to run back to God for the help that only He can give.
Perfecting Storms. These storms teach us a lesson. I think of Joseph or Paul here. Paul had a “thorn in his side” (2 Cor. 12:7-10) and we don’t know what that was exactly, but we know that God did not take it away. God chose for Paul to be weak in an area so that His GRACE would meet his needs. Growth doesn’t come by smooth sailing. Spiritual growth comes by trials and testing. God allows these storms to grow our faith and trust in Him.
Protecting Storms. These storms keep us focused on God’s Purpose and protect us from something that would have hurt us. I think of the disciples as they went out into the world to share the Good News and were met with trials, or the inability to go where they thought they were supposed to go. So they prayed and acted on things when they had clarity after the storm. These were pivotal moments in their lives that God allowed, that changed them, but also protected them and built their trust in Him.
I believe the storms of life are to reveal where we are in our spiritual life. Storms come to all of us, as we especially see right now. The whole world is going through this difficult time. And we are seeing the whole world also asking the big questions of life… Who is God and what is the meaning of life?
So yes, God uses these storms, allows them and even sends us into them …because He loves us! He wants to show us that He is there for us with help that only He can give! He loves you so much that He will run after you, He will call to you, and He will encourage you to abide in Him and His grace. It’s about being in Gods will through the storms... that then build and grow our faith and bring about His peace, during them. “We are safer in God’s will IN THE STORM than outside of His will.”
You don’t have to weather the storms alone friends! You don’t have to believe that you are strong enough, smart enough or self reliant enough… God is reminding you that He is our Solid Rock foundation. God wants to rescue you, transform you and give you strength through His power and grace! “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
Let’s allow this Coronavirus “Storm of LIfe” to grow us in our faith. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want life to return to normal! I want this “storm of life” to have changed us. So that, we can see more clearly what God is calling us towards, and to live out our lives with this new perspective that draws us closer to Him. That the knowledge of God and His love for us propels us forward with boldness and peace in knowing that God is with us and He is our refuge!
Reflect on this Today:
Read Isaiah 26:3 & Acts 14:21
How do we continue in the faith in the middle of the storms of life?
I think of Ephesians 6:10-20 again. How important is it to have the Whole Armor of God on during these storms of life?
Reflect and journal how this current Coronavirus “Storm of Life” has changed you.
How can you go forward with greater faith that propels you into the Purposes of God? Pray right now for God to reveal this to you.
Journal or sketch what the Lord is putting on you heart right now.
I love this photo I took a few years back in Hawaii after a big storm had come through. It reminds me of the beauty that comes after a storm!
Let’s focus on God and His promises today!
Here’s a song from Casting Crowns called: Praise You in the Storm:
I hope this blesses you today!
Here’s the art we did together yesterday in our Zoom class:
It was a fun scene I found on Pinterest as inspiration for a “Cafe in Paris” class. We are really going to be excited when we finally get to be there together next year!
I hope you have a GREAT Friday… this is the BEST Friday ever, knowing what the Lord has done for us!
Tomorrow I will be sharing my story of how Jesus changed my life, so I hope to see you back here tomorrow.
Hugs,
Laura McCollough