Every life has storms, something that happens unexpectedly and unwanted. You go to the doctor anticipating a normal checkup, and the lab work comes back showing signs of cancer. The news is devasting and you find yourself struggling with the idea of your own immortality. Your peaceful nights are ruined by the catastrophic news about your health.
We have either just endured a storm, are currently going through one, or will face one soon. Because we are human, we have emotions and feel deeply. As humans we live in a world of pain that can leave us feeling battered, bruised or scarred. Storms will either cause us to doubt God’s good will or give us some of the sweetest moments of our lives as we learn to grow in a spiritual relationship knowing God is there for us.
Know that storms can sometimes cause much damage and wreak havoc in many lives. While the news often focuses on environmental storms, there are other storms just as devastating that people experience every day, such as sickness, financial hardship, and broken relationships. These storms of life threaten our peace, comfort, and joy, and often bring about fear, doubt, and hopelessness.
Whenever storms suddenly come upon us, we often wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” But during these times of uncertainty know that God has a purpose for every trial that we experience. You may feel that God doesn’t care when you face a health crisis or a financial hardship that may cause you to lose your home. However, you should remember that God said, “to cast all of our cares and concerns on him because he cares for us.”
Facing life’s storms requires courage on our part to co-labor with God through the process of change. We should ask him for strength to endure the hardships and to step out on faith that he will help us find our way through all the storms of life. According to the Bible, “We are safer in a raging storm which the Lord allows than resting in false peace from our enemy.”
I am reminded that there is a point in every trial when it is no longer about the outcome anymore; but rather the process of getting to an end goal. As we desperately pray for breakthrough, justice, or mercy, God is up to a million other things to answer that exact prayer in his perfect timing. His love for us protects us from our own limited will and prevents us from total shipwreck. His power helps us let go of our control and reveals his ability to work beyond time and space. When the bottom falls out and storms rage around us, knowing that God will see us through is the greatest hope we can have. So, be blessed and Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
Dr. Walter Ghosten
