|
How To Find God In A Storm
There are many folk who think Christians don’t have problems. I could get into my entire life, but I generally write short teachings here. For the sake of discussion, let’s take today for example. This morning I got up to drive twenty-five miles to work. It had just stopped raining freezing rain. We live a mile off the paved road and it necessary to climb two hills to reach that road. Well I got over the two hills to the paved road and felt for sure I was home free. I felt that way right up to the point where I hit the mighty oak tree. Despite the fact that
the tree stopped the truck in its tracks, I was unharmed. I tried to back up but a smaller tree had a death grip on my bumper. I managed to free the bumper and tried to get out of the ditch. I rolled down the window and heard a hissing
sound. I had a flat tire. Did I mention I hate to be late? Well, I had to walk back to the house to get my four wheel drive vehicle to make it to work. I was a mile and a quarter away from out house. I don’t have a cell phone and I wouldn’t have called if I did. I wouldn’t have put my wife to the trouble of getting out in these conditions. I was winded by the top of the first hill. But I hadn’t made it up the tall steep hill yet. After I got going again towards work I ended up behind the world’s slowest driver. Almost needless to say I was late to work. As my legs warmed up I began to realize that I had been scratched quite a bit by those sticker bushes that surrounded my truck and were protecting that tree with the death grip on my bumper.
Some believe that God should show up at every problem and protect us from them. Much of the time when the storms are raging, we don’t see the hand of God. This failing is directly related to our unbelief. The fact is that before the storm was brewing, God was in control. God keeps his control always. When we see this fact, we then can see the Almighty God in control no matter how
bad the storm rages. Some would say, “Hey dude, you hit a tree and got a flat tire.” To them I would say, “True, but I wasn’t involved in a wreck that hurt me.”
God’s hand protected me even in what would have been a real aggravation when I wasn’t a believer. I just thank God for stopping me with that oak tree before something a lot worse would have happened. The security guard at the gate I go through in the evening told me that this big bridge we go over was
filled with insane drivers. They almost ran him of the road on a bridge covered with ice. Still not convinced God was there? My wife and son follow God’s word. God has blessed me with a church family that has several members who would give the shirt off their back to help someone. I got a call during my lunch break from my wife. They didn’t realize I had hit the mighty oak because there wasn’t really much damage to the truck. They pulled it out of the ditch. Put the spare tire on. And our son drove it back to the house.
Where was God during my storm? He was where he always is, in control. God sits on his throne and orders the universe. Not one raindrop falls, but that he allows it to. Although I don’t always share the problems, be aware that I don’t because I am not throwing a pity party. I think of my problems as challenges to be over come. Just a little true humor: 52 years ago my mother was crossing the Mississippi River to a hospital to deliver me. She was stopped by a barge that they opened the bridge for. I’m sure my mother didn’t think much of this. I think that is funny because even before I was born, the world was trying to stop me.
There are two ends to life. One is death, and the other is being translated. Despite the fact that I have almost died three times, I do not fear. In the day I
die or I am transformed, God is in control. If I beat a problem while I am alive,
I have victory in Jesus. But if I die I have a much greater reward, because I will be with Jesus which is the ultimate victory. Don’t be like Peter who took his
eyes off of Jesus and focused on the storm. Keep your eyes on God where he always is.
|
