Daily Devotional – 11/21/11 “Though the storm is raging”

When I woke up this morning to the lightning coming through the window, I had no idea rain was in the forecast because I don’t generally watch the news.  But as I heard the thunder and the rain drops fall, I couldn’t help but think of this storm as being like a storm someone is facing today.  Just like a thunderstorm and rain, a storm in your life can come and go just as quickly as clouds.  I’ve lived long enough to know that trouble comes just when it looks like all things are working out.  Your only car breaks down and it happens at the exact moment you don’t have the extra money.  Your child gets sick at the time you can’t miss work without your job being in jeopardy.  Momma or Daddy dies right after the loss of your best friend.  Can things get any worse?  Isn’t this the question that is usually asked?  Some may even say if it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all.  But who needs luck when you have faith?  Faith is being sure of what you’ve hoped for and certain of the things that we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). 

Even though you are facing a storm in your life, it can be gone just as fast as the thunder and rain coming down outside.  Even though trouble can rip through your life like a tornado, it can be gone just as fast.  Even though enemies can throw things around in your life, some things and people are taken and it looks like things will never be the same, after the storm you can rebuild.  Haven’t you noticed after a tornado when your house is blown away and all your possessions are gone, your foundation still stands? Well, if you start with a firm foundation built on God’s words, it’ll stand through the storm.  As for the things you’ve lost they can, too, be replaced.  Look at the story of Job.  After all he went through and all the things taken from him, because he did not lose his faith, all things were returned to him two (2) times greater than what he had before.   Yea, you lost your house in a fire but you can rebuild it better than you had before.  Yea, your car has been repossessed but it can be replaced with something newer and better.  Yea, your husband or wife has walked away but he or she can be replaced, with the one God has for you, who will treat you better than anyone ever has.  Yea, you lost your job because the company downsized, it was just opening up the door for your new career. 

Just because the clouds are hanging low and the darkness is overshadowing your path, it shouldn’t stop you from walking on.  The bible says in Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Just because the wind is blowing hard enough to knock your wig off, it shouldn’t stop you from going on.  Isaiah 4:6 says of God’s glory, “It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”  We all know that trouble will come into our life because it was promised and no one is immune.  But don’t give up and go into hiding.  God is able and will protect you and he’s given you the tools necessary to handle it.  Yea, your bills may be due and the holidays are here but there are ways of enjoying them without going broke.  Get back to the real meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They can be just as enjoyable as family time rather than trying to give everybody a gift and you know you can’t afford it.  God is just what he said he is.   

God is like the Red Cross.  He’ll give you shelter.  He’ll protect you.  He’ll clothe you.  He’ll provide relief.  He’s like Allstate because you’ll always be in good hands. He’s like the Food bank because he is always open to feed you when you’re hungry.  But you have to hold on! When you are in the midst of a storm, you have to find shelter strong enough to protect you through it.  God is this shelter.  Don’t believe me, read Psalm 27:5 which say “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” Have faith and believe in the power of pray.  It changes things because I’m a living witness!