Skip to main content

Why do we go through storms?

It seems like for the past few weeks all we've heard about has been storms.  The United States has been hit hard by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and meteorologists are currently watching Jose to see what it's going to do.  These storms have caused many deaths and a tremendous amount of damage.  People have been glued to computers, phones, and the news to check on the both the anticipated track of these storms and the aftermath that they have left behind.  These storms are somewhat like our lives as it has been said that there are two kinds of people in this world; those in a storm, and those heading into a storm.

In Exodus 2:23-25, there was a group of people, the Israelites, who had been being oppressed by the Egyptian king for many days.  When he died, they groaned and cried out for help.  Their cry to help came up to God.  And He heard their groaning and remembered his promise to them.

Why were the Israelites, God's chosen people, being left to live in slavery for so long?  If God truly loved these people, why would He allow them to suffer for this long?  It doesn't make sense...or does it?

As I sit here watching the trees whip back and forth outside, and listen to the noises through the walls, I know what's causing the motions and sounds.  Even though I cant' see it, I know the wind is at work and present right now.  The same is true of God during this time for the Israelites and for us in our storms.  He is always directing our paths and working in our lives, even when we can't see Him.

So why were the Israelites left in captivity that long?  Well, if you continue on to Exodus 4:19, we read where the Lord said to Moses, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead."  Why did their storm last that long?  Because Moses, the man God had chosen and equipped to lead them out of Egypt to freedom would have been killed if he had returned to Egypt sooner.  God was at work!

Just because you're in a bad situation right now doesn't mean that God is not present or not working in your life, or that He doesn't love you.  God is so much wiser than we are and He knows all the plans that He has for you.  God hadn't abandoned the Israelites in their storms and He hasn't abandoned you.  Just do as they did, and cry out to God for help when you need Him.  He hears the prayers of His people and answers them.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

2020 is Hindsight...Finally!

Wow, what a year! 2020 could literally be an entire decade, maybe more, of history, change, and lessons rolled up into these twelve months. While many aspects of 2020 were kind of sucky and we would like to forget them, it will certainly be a year to remember. And it will be enlightening when this year is looked back on in 10, 25, or 50 years to be discussed. I wonder if we'll seem like geniuses or idiots? Probably both to some extent! While there is so much that I could consider and analyze about this year, I'll try to break some of it down into four dimensions - Physical, Spiritual, Mental, and Social/Emotional. These are events and happenings from my world and perspective and I'm trying to be open in sharing and would love to hear from others on events you found most transforming. Physical When COVID cause gyms to close, that messed me up. Our town and state were late to be hit with severe cases and therefore later than many across the country to close up shop. I'm n...

Planes Fly in the Sky

Let me be very honest and candid about this - when I first read about the proposed airplane tax cut, I was not happy (just say it, I was mad!).  I thought that it was ludicrous to consider cutting tax revenue while counties are already struggling due to decreased sales and collections of local taxes.   However, unlike many people in today's culture, I didn't take to social media to start talking about how stupid the idea was and how much I disagreed with.  Instead, I started doing some research.  I looked up some information, asked some questions, had some conversations, and I learned some things. This was important for me to understand because I own a boat (I consider planes and boats luxury items) and pay Union County property taxes.  However, that boat hasn't been in Union for years.  It's housed and operated in a neighboring county.  There's not even anywhere that I can safely and legally operate my boat on public property in Union, yet I stil...

Cookie Cutter Marriage

  Is your marriage like a cookie?  Maybe it's sweet.  Maybe it's comforting.  Maybe it's round (symbolic of the continuity of the rings).  Whatever cookie you feel your marriage may most resemble, and the possibilities are endless, they all require some of the same ingredients to be tasty and successful. If we were to examine several cookie recipes, we would see just how many variations there are.  You have numerous chocolate chip, chocolate oatmeal, peanut butter, sugar, and many many more that we could name off. But what makes a cookie a cookie?  Most cookie recipes call for some combination of butter, sugar, flour, and eggs.  This where it gets fun.  From here, you can add the flavor(s) that you and your family enjoy!  Do you want to add fruit, candy, chocolate?  Again, the possibilities are endless. The same is true in our marriages.  There are some core "ingredients" that we all need - love, trust, compassion, faithfulness...