Storms...

So, as I sit here tonight on the Oregon Coast, everyone is gearing up for a big storm. School has already been cancelled for tomorrow, and everyone who can stay home is staying home. The forecast calls for over 100 mph winds here tomorrow and ocean swells to 35 feet. I don't think I have ever been through a storm like this, so it should be very exciting!

When I got home from work today, Thane and the boys were busy unloading wood into the house, organizing candles, hunting for lanterns and bringing in everything that isn't tied down from outside. As they hurriedly prepared, I found myself worrying...what if we don't have power? what if I can't get to work? what if we run out of wood? what if our roof blows off or our house floods? No one else in my house seemed worried though, all busy preparing...making sure every possible complication had a solution. As I watched them, I started to draw an obvious parallel, it goes something like this...

The National Weather Service issues a warning, right? "Hey! There's a big storm coming!!! Its going to be bad!!!" We respond, if we're listening, by preparing for the worst...figuring out how we will "weather" the storm. In our own lives the Lord tells us, through His Word, that we will have to "weather" storms. What they look like, how difficult they are and how they will affect us will be different for everyone. But what is the same is that we all will have them. So, how should we respond to the warning? Should we panic? Should we ignore it? Should we put it aside and deal with it later? The Lord tells us we should prepare...

Hauling wood, gathering candles, and filling lanterns can prepare us for weathering an Oregon
Coast winter storm. But the storms of life require similar preparations. Studying the Word, will give us wisdom and discernment. Prayer and seeking Him will give us guidance and comfort. Worshipping our Saviour at all times gives us the comfort and knowledge that His sovereignty is certain. We may not know when the storm is coming or even what the storm is, but if we're prepared we can handle anything in the name of Jesus. Draw close to Him before, after and in the midst of your storms...there is no better place.