Beyond the Storm

It stormed yesterday. My husband, daughter, and I were getting ice cream, when all of a sudden, the wind began to whip the trees back and forth. Leaves were being torn off the branches and twirled in circles on the ground. The sky darkened, and right after we got in the car, the flood gates opened. After the storm passed, I ventured out to run a last minute errand. As I drove down the road, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the sky looked. There were still dark clouds lingering, but at the top of those clouds, I was able to see a few clouds shining bright, reflecting the rays from the hidden sun. I absolutely LOVE spotting those clouds. You know the ones I’m talking about. They sit atop the darkness and give a small glimmer of the beauty that lies just beyond the gray.

I see those clouds and daydream of what it must look like above the passing storm. I picture the times I have flown through clouds and storms. White knuckling the arm rests or squeezing my loved one’s hand so hard it might fall off, I pray silently that the pilot reaches altitude. I check my window hoping to see us break through the turbulence inducing clouds. As the plane climbs higher, it finally rise into the sunlight and the horizon looks like an endless field of white cotton. I often feel this view is a glimpse of what heaven will look like.

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As I drove on tonight, I began to think about how much life is like this passing storm. We have all heard sayings like “dance in the rain” and “this too shall pass”. We know that storms are temporary, and often with storms come rainbows: beautiful reminders of God’s promises. But let’s be honest, storms can be scary. They can come out of nowhere and leave us scrambling. They can cause harm, destruction, and even death. We might fare well and receive rain we have been needing, or we may be left in shambles faced with devastation and little hope. Life’s figurative storms are no different. We might be upset with God, wondering why we are having to face such a challenge. We may question how we are going to overcome. We may pray and pray and feel like He can’t hear us through the thick wall of clouds looming above. But rest assured, He does hear us. Psalm 145:18 says, ” The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (ESV) The Bible continually reminds us to pray. In fact, many of you can probably recite 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing” (ESV)

There are so many examples in the Bible of God using storms for a purpose. Look at Jonah, and even Jesus himself calming a storm to teach His disciples a lesson. That’s what storms do. They shape us. God uses storms to build our faith and help us learn to persevere through trials and tribulations. James 1:2-4 explains ” Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (ESV)

Did you see the first part of those verses? “Count it all joy” Real talk, this step is difficult. Let’s go back to 1 Thessalonians 5:17. If we look it up in the Bible, we will notice that it is only one part of a directive. Let’s look at the set of verses in their entirety “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) Rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances. This task is not easy. I can tell you right now, I have failed at this many times. People always say, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” My journey through life has given me a different perspective on this saying. After losing my father to suicide, miscarrying two babies, and facing the uncertainties of my son’s rare genetic disorder, I can tell you without a doubt that God ABSOLUTELY gives us more than we can handle. BUT, He never gives us more than HE can handle. He is right by our side every step of the way. We can find joy in knowing that He has a plan and a purpose, even during our darkest days.

These storms we face might pass quickly or feel like they are lasting forever. They may leave us wounded and exhausted, but praise God we do not have to face them alone. Even during a real storm, the sun is never truly gone. It is always there, just like He is always there for us.

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