WHEN THE STORMS COME

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

My husband was born about 150 years too late.  He would have enjoyed being a wilderness man.  From the time he was a young boy, he enjoyed camping and hunting and fishing.  This love of the outdoors lasted throughout his adult years until poor health kept him from getting out.  He had many adventures and he loves to tell about them to anyone who will sit and listen.

On one of his hunting trips, he was camping with two other men.  It was a warm, clear night without a cloud in the sky.  They had set up camp and were sitting around the campfire telling hunting stories.  My husband noticed that there was one small cloud moving slowly in their direction.  They continued to talk and were not paying attention to the sky, when suddenly the cloud was over them.  It was only a few feet wide but it started to rain on them, heavy enough to put out their fire and soak everything in the camp, especially them.  Then just as quickly as it came, it moved on.

Have you ever had a time in your life when it seemed that you had a cloud that followed you around and rained on you continually?  I have felt that way.  It seemed that my life was just one crisis after another and that the sun would never shine again for me.  But, I learned many things while in those stormy times.  The most amazing truth that I discovered is that I felt the presence of God’s Spirit closer to me than at any other time.  I found that when I was too weak to go on, I did.  Not by my strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit that lived within me.

I must admit that there still are times when I feel alone and angry and I have an occasional meltdown.  But when I turn it over to Jesus, He gives me a peace that I cannot explain. The things that I am dealing with may not always change; sometimes God has to change me.

“God, the eternal God, is our support at all times, especially when we are sinking into deep trouble.  There are seasons when we sink quite low…Dear child of God, even when you are at your lowest, underneath are the everlasting arms.”  Charles Spurgeon

…because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?”  Hebrews 13:5,6

…The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5-7