There are many varieties and names for storms such as blizzard, cyclone, typhoon, hurricane, tornado, dust storm, hailstorm, rainstorm, windstorm, snowstorm and electrical storm. A storm is associated with severe weather and may be marked by strong winds, thunder, lightning and rain.
Severe storms have a tendency to mess up things and cause serious damage to structures, aircraft, automobiles, watercraft, crops and livestock. However, elements of a storm, such as snow, can be beneficial to agriculture by serving as a thermal insulator conserving the heat of the earth and protecting crops from subfreezing weather. Some farmers depend on an accumulation of snow during winter that will melt gradually in the spring providing water for crop’s growth. Another plus for heavy snowfall is for recreational activities such as skiing.
Tornadoes and hurricanes have the potential to harm lives and property in a more serious, as well as expensive way, all in a matter of seconds. Tornadoes have an estimated wind speed up to 200-300 mph while hurricane winds reach 74 mph or faster and tend to stick around much longer, cover more ground and cause more damage than tornadoes. In any event, when we know that a storm is coming, we sometimes prepare for the outcome. We stock up on food, water, medicine, etc. We take the necessary precautions to make sure that we will be safe.
And then there are storms in our personal lives that come in various degrees. Storms that sometime start out as a light drizzle but then turn into a Category 5 hurricane. But regardless of the intensity of the storm’s origin, we trust in God for everything. These storms come to sanctify, purify, beautify and to make us Christ-like. And sometimes they come to tear down and to destroy. Tear down pride, carnality, worldliness, every evil work and to destroy our enemies. Everything has a reason and a season, but we are able to endure, overcome and prevail with the help of the Lord.
Dark times will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us. He wants to refine, cleanse, mold and transform us into a new and better person. One who will be fit for the Kingdom. Most people don’t want to be part of the process, they just want to be a part of the outcome (Heaven). But the process is where you figure out who’s worth being a part of the outcome. It’s basically separating the sheep from the goats. And it is a process that will take place eventually. So, we must surrender our will, our ways and let God make the necessary changes for us to have eternal life with Him.
Jesus is the One who takes us through our mountain highs and our valley lows, and He even gets in the fire with us. He will send us storms to show that He is the only shelter. Because of Jesus, we made it through storms that should have killed us. Storms that should have discouraged us and stopped us from continuing on. When we were overwhelmed, burnt out, mentally exhausted, emotionally drained, worrying about any and everything, The Lord stepped in and propelled us to victory. “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. ForThou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.” (Psalm 61: 1-4)
There will be times when we face difficult challenges where God does not take us out as we desire Him to. Sometimes He will develop us in the midst of the situation as we receive the lessons and the wisdom that He wants us to gain. Although the process is very painful, it is necessary to mature us, to perfect us, to continually make us better. Instead of focusing on the pain and the process we must shift our focus on to the benefits we are gaining from the experience. The inconvenience is only temporary. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” (2 Corinthians 4: 17) “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34: 19
It is easy to see God at work on our behalf when prayers are answered, doors are opened and everything is falling into place. But what about the silent moments when prayers are delayed, doors remain shut and feels as though everything is falling apart? What about the times when God doesn’t seem to be moving? Even then, He is there at work on our behalf. Never, ever forget that while you are waiting, God is in that “time of waiting” too. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46: 10) Keep praying and give Him time to work and then to reward your faithfulness. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (Hebrews 10: 35-37) Keep singing and praising in the storm even when your heart is broken, when your health is being challenged and when you can’t understand God’s plan. This is a part of the journey, a part of the growth and refinement. God wants you to shine in this dark, ugly world.
Even the disciples had to endure their own storms. Their faith was being tested while Jesus was asleep in the midst of their storm. “And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4: 35-41)
Noah had his storm and Jonah was literally inside of his storm. And Apostle Paul endured more storms than we all. “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Corinthians 11: 23-27) And let’s not forget the snake bite! (Acts 28: 1-6)
Finding yourself is essential in achieving your God-given purpose. He uniquely created you for a purpose that only you can fulfill. He uses all of your experiences, good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling. Be thankful for the setbacks, the good, the bad, the highs, the lows, the lessons and the struggles. Through it all God has kept us, protected us and blessed us. His strength and energy sustains us while His wisdom guides us. “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” (Nahum 1: 7)
One of the greatest joys is letting Christ live His life out through us so that what He is we become. Our lives should reflect the holiness and grace of God in all that we do, think or say. “Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29: 1-2) He wants us to achieve a life that maximizes every realm of possibility in and through Him. It is not what we go through but what we get through. Never let the hardship of the journey overshadow the glory of the destination. “Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but Thou broughtest us
out into a wealthy place.” (Psalm 66: 12) There is a blessing in the storm and on the other side of it.
“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” (James 5: 13) God gives us grace to get through every storm. As you pray in the storm, pray for the strength to be able to accept, handle and conquer anything that comes your way. He will keep us firm in the faith and joyful in Spirit. His constant presence reminds us that He is with us every step of the way. God’s delay is not His denial. He is ordering our steps so don’t panic and don’t be weary in well doing. Your due season is coming so wait it out, pray it out, praise it out. “And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31: 8)
Jesus prayed to the Father also. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1: 35) In the storms it is vital to have open communication with God. Prayer is something that the Lord expects us to engage in constantly, at all times, in all situations. When we remain in communication with God, He shows us the battle plan on how to defeat Satan. We must practice ignoring Satan when he sends anxiety and lies. God will show us what to do and how to do it. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” (Psalm 32: 8)
Let the Word of God strengthen you when Satan shoots his fiery darts to break your heart, when he sends a firestorm of worry, frustration, depression and fear. The Word is capable of rendering the enemy powerless when we use it correctly. It should be an automatic response to every challenge in life. We defeat Satan in the spirit realm before the natural realm. Meaning, when the storms of life are raging, from the very beginning take authority over every evil plot, scheme and tactic. He wants to weaken you and to sabotage your spiritual position quickly. Switch from sight to faith and God will give you strength beyond your natural ability and He always has a contingency plan.
God impacts our lives significantly even upon conversion. He shows us that He is all-powerful, capable and able to handle every storm we may face. The good days certainly outweigh the bad ones by far. Remind yourself that you have God.
He will never leave you nor forsake you. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14: 18) So if the storm is passing over or you get hit by torrential rain, or perhaps you’re in the eye of the storm, be at peace. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” (Mark 11: 22) “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27) There isn’t a single situation that God can’t change, control or conquer. Seek Him first and trust Him to provide. The trial is refining you. The test is maturing you. The valley is preparing you. The storm is building your faith and God is working on your behalf all the while. There are things He needs to teach us in the storm so that we will succeed at the level that He is taking us to.
As we prepare in the natural for storms we also must prepare for the spiritual. The cloud-ride to heaven will be glorious when Jesus comes. No more gloom and doom, only refreshing blue skies. As we see the covenant rainbow after the storm, we will also get to witness the glorious rainbow around the throne of God. “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” (Revelation 4: 2-5)
All praise, honor and glory, dominion and power to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
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