“STORMS OF LIFE”
I’m a fan of the Casting Crown’s song “Praise You In The Storm”. If you haven’t heard it… pause, google, listen and repeat! Sometimes we go through stuff and it just seems like there is no end in sight. I assure you that God is bigger than any of your struggles and He can guide you through if you will allow Him to.
Often times we go through situations where we doing everything we can in our own strength and then turn to God as a last resort when we realize that it’s bigger than us. Although I think God allows that to happen sometimes to help us to recognize our need for a Savior. He would much prefer that you give your burdens to Him and allow Him to walk you through your everyday life and be a pillar for when things get extra tough.
I’m a pretty strong willed guy and I’ve been through my share of struggles but I’ve learned that if I don’t humble myself and permit God to be a part of my life, I will crash and burn. Once again, God is not your genie in a bottle but He is our Omnipotent Father that desires a relationship with His children. He’s not going to beg you, force you, or strike you with lightning (will He might) but He gives us the choice to serve Him and allow Him to be the Lord of our lives.
Have you ever been in the bathroom with the worst stomach cramps you’ve ever had, you’re head propped up on whatever is nearby and confessing every sin you could possibly think of if only God would take away the pain that you were currently enduring? Don’t play innocent… it happens to everyone. It’s worse if it’s not at your own house! This kind of submission should be a daily thing for us. At that moment of weakness we realized that we needed help. This doesn’t mean that God will take away all of your struggles, pains and situations that aren’t your preference. It just means that God can take away some of the burden, give you a better perspective of the situation and maybe gain knowledge or experience from it and may protect you from some of your dumb decisions in advance if you’ll listen to His voice before the “you will reap what you sow” rule kicks in.
All of that to say… don’t forget to involve God in your life at all times and make sure you praise Him in the storms of this life even if you don’t feel like it. That separates the true followers of Jesus Christ and those that just claim His name when they want something or just want to sound spiritual in front of others. You can fake religion but you can’t fake relationship!
If you’re going through something tough right now, I pray that God can direct your decisions, put a hedge of protection around you, infuse you with the light of the Holy Spirit and somehow help you to grow closer to Him and others as you endure this season.