Serving Him Together: When the storms come

Last night as the storm rolled in ..... it got me thinking. Storms, much like life, are unpredictable. We might have some warning through weather reports, or circumstances, but when we're right in the midst of the storm everything can seem so out of control. I watched the trees out my front room window wondering if they were gonna come crashing to the ground with the extreme winds that came through. Shortly after, the winds took down a great big branch from the tree to the east. Yet the tree still stood. It got me thinking about our lives. Each of us have had times in our lives that we experienced broken branches. Just like that big 'ole tree that is rooted so very deeply and broadly into the ground .... I need to be deeply rooted in God's truth. If I'm not, I won't stand when the storms come.

Just as the winds were coming from every direction, swirling about, taking plants, lawn furniture and anything loose to places they didn't belong, that is exactly how it can feel when our lives are ripped up and blown about by tragedy, heartache and despair. God is still God even in the storms of life. His goodness does not change. He is just as good when we get to see the amazing miracle of new birth as He is when we lose a loved one to a sudden death. He is just as loving when a child is welcomed into a family as He is when another child becomes an orphan. He is just as faithful when we land a new job, or get a house sold in record time as He is when there is month after month of unemployment and we fall into financial despair.

I want to be like the tree outside my front room window that is still standing today in spite of yesterday's storm. I want to stand strong when the storms of life come crashing around me and the Enemy of the universe tries to get me to give up. I want my roots to be so firmly rooted in God's Truth that NOTHING of this world can destroy me completely.

You and I will have broken branches as we journey through life on this earth. There will be things in our lives that are completely out of our control. Sometimes our trees get out of balance and need pruning. But if we are rooted in Truth, we will weather the storm.

How about you .... are you feeling like the storms of life just leave you feeling out of control? Are you frightened when the high and unpredictable winds come? Do you wonder where God is when you see destruction? Be encouraged, that He is still there ... He is still the same loving and merciful Father that He has always been. He is worthy of our absolute trust.

Lord help me to weather the storms well, being rooted in your Truth. Help me be a tree of LIFE.