IN THE STORMS

I make it no secret that I am no fan of winter.  I begin looking forward to summer in October.  I consider myself a summer activist.  Winter hurts my feelings.  I am not alone.  Many of us this year have already had more than enough of what winter brings:  cold, snow, ice, mud, cancellations due to winter storms, etc.  Winter causes me to whine incessantly in a less than manly manner.  

To be fair, confession time, my response to winter should not be considered a proper example of spiritual maturity.

When the sailors on the ship with Jonah saw the big thunderstorm raging and threatening the integrity of their ship, they cried out to their gods for help.  One big problem was that their so-called gods were man-made and could not help them.  It was THE God, Creator of the Universe and God of the Bible, who cranked up that storm.  He would be the only one who could stop it.

According to the Bible, God is in control of the weather including winter snow storms.  Can I just tell ya something?  There is also no storm or trial in your personal life which is not under the command of God.  At given time, most of us are in one of three conditions:

1.   Approaching a storm
2.   Experiencing a storm
3.   Just survived another storm

What is your response to the storms in your life?  How do you react when you are in the middle of a raging storm?  Is your first inclination to cry out to God?  

God never promised to remove the storms of our lives.  He promised to never leave nor forsake us.  He is with us in the storms - which He has full control over.  When we practice keeping our eyes on God between storms, when the next storm comes, we are more inclined to stay focused on God. It was when Peter shifted his eyes from Jesus to the coming storm that he went from walking on water to drowning.

Prayer
Lord help me to remember that You are in control.  I want my first inclination when the storms come, to be a focus on You.  Father, I lift up those in my life who do not yet know You and pray Your light will shine through my confidence in You.

But the Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart.  -- Jonah 1:4 CSB

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