Facing the Storms

We have two choices when we are suddenly thrown into the middle of a storm. We either run away from it, hiding our faces, and remaining weak, or we turn and face it, go against it and let the Lord bring us through it! After all, He brought us to it, and He promises to get us through it. The latter brings us strength, perseverance, endurance and much more faith than we had before the storm hit! Faith ALWAYS triumphs in troubled times! Always. In Romans 5:1-5 Paul says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by Faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Sometimes, we have a subtle warning that a storm is coming, and other times, not so much. It just hits us out of the blue! Will YOU be prepared when your storm hits?

We need to be patient in our tribulations, or our storms if you will, and continue to pray steadfastly because our only hope in this world IS the Lord Jesus Christ! God will allow His children to go through trials and tribulations to teach us, to guide us, to grow us! If you look back on your lives right now and look at some of the storms you've faced, and how those storms have changed you and grew you, then you understand how important trials and tribulations are in the course of our walk with the Lord! I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't faced the storms I was brought to! Make no mistake, I, along with every other Christian, have turned and ran from some storms.....being in denial, remaining weak. But, what I've learned from those hiding places was simple; they will come around again, in a different form, in a different time, because when God wants, and needs, us to be in a certain appointed place, to do a specific mission, then He will do what is necessary to equip us along the way so that we are ABLE do His Will when He asks us to! Our storms are also a reminder for us in our future that "With God, everything is possible." He got us through it once, He will get us through it again! Praise the Lord for His love!

As we do face the storms, we must not be weary because our strength in the flesh is fleeting and wanes after awhile. Our strength needs to be put in the Lord, because HIS strength is forever and it's in His strength that all of our battles are fought, and won! Psalm 71:16, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only." and as another one of my favorite comforting verses says, Psalm 107:28-30, "Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven." It doesn't matter how long our storms last, how weak we think we have become, nor how violent the lightning strikes appear. It's not what we need to focus on. It's not what our eyes need to see. We need to remember there is a purpose in each storm we face, each trial and tribulation that we stumble upon. Let us not forget that in order to grow in the Lord, to be strong in the Lord, and to be used in and for His greatness, we must be tested, tried and molded! The only way to do that is to face the storms head on and continue to reach for the strength of the Lord. He will provide the boat, the shelter, the paddles and most importantly, the PEACE! Then sit back and watch how HIS strength carries you, not only through the storm, but ABOVE it! 


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