The Beauty of Life's Storms
by Kathryn McKinney
(North Carolina)
Job's reaction to the news of his children's death brought him to complete humility before God. The Bible says: "he got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.'"(Job 1:20-21)
How do we react when trouble, disaster or tragedy comes? Realizing the Lord has given and the Lord has taken away and to praise Him as a result is something that will take some practice. I didn't say, "praise Him anyway," I said, "praise Him as a result."
Job was facing the death of his children. Not one but all of them at once. "A mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them." (Job 1:19) Seven children wiped out in the blink of an eye. Here one minute and gone forever. In less than sixty seconds that one minute equals, can we recall storms in our lives?
Ever wonder why they call weather related disasters natural? Something so powerful, so random, so violent being accepted as natural?
The dictionary definition of natural gives a clue; "Conforming to the usual or ordinary course of nature." Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is?his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Through God's grace we can conform to the fact that we can not control the weather. Likewise we must not conform to the twisting winds of the storms we face.
Before storms break forth, there are the tempest seas that catch the eye of any sea bearing Captain. He knows a storm is brewing. He has spent his life on the sea tossing and charging even the mightiest wind and sauciest waves.
He knows it is part of the life of the sea. He knew the dangers before he set sail. He was prepared. Ready. Yet poised and hopeful for the best. Are we not all sea Captains weathering the storms of life? Has not Christ warned us that the world hated Him and in turn, so it will hate us? Did He not warn us that we would have trouble in this world but not to fret because He has overcome the world?
It is difficult to see that Christ has overcome the dirty dishes in the sink, the bald tires on the van and the inspection sticker on the car but He has! He has declared that He is, in fact, the supplier of all our needs it just may not look like it at first glance.
Can we challenge ourselves to praise and worship the Lord in the face of trouble as Job did? Can we have faith that joy will come in the morning?
Sure we can for God has not forsaken us! He prepares for us a table in the presence of our very enemies so as to afford the opportunities we are in need of in order to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
It is not about the dishes, the bald tires or the inspection sticker on the car but it is about who you will meet as a result of the very things that guide you where God's will shall be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Blessings, love and encouragement in the Lord!
Kathryn McKinney
