|
Hope In The Storms
Of Life
help IS present
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear,
even if earthquakes come and the mountains
crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar
and foam. Let the mountains
tremble as the waters surge! The LORD Almighty is here among us; the God of
Israel is our fortress.” Psalms
46:1-3,7
Hurricane Katrina’s devastation is
beyond words!
“A
life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.”
Proverbs
11:28
(Msg)
Q. Where is God? - this so called
Loving, Compassionate God?
“But
now, thus says the LORD, who created you, ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; You are
Mine. When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; And
through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire,
you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of
Israel
, your Savior...’
Isaiah 43:1b-3a (NKJV)
Read:
II Corinthians 4:6-10 (v3)
Trouble is nothing new to God’s
people:( slavery in
Egypt
,
fiery furnace, Job, Daniel, Joseph, David, Paul, Peter, James, John ...)
“The LORD's people
may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely
through.” Psalms 34:19 (CEV) - “afflictions” (KJV)
However, sometimes God does use our
“afflictions” to accomplish His purposes in our life:
1)
To direct us - point us in a new direction
2) To inspect us - to see
what’s on the inside James 1:2-4
3) To teach us - hot stove
experience Psalms 119:71,11
4) To connect us - hospitals and funerals Psalms 119:66,67
5) To protect us - whitewater ahead ! Genesis
50:18-21
6) To perfect us - character builders (3rd purpose) Ps. 71:17-22
Romans 5: 3,4
Paul says tribulation brings forth patience -
Thought,- the eagle does not escape the
storm- it simply uses the winds of the storm to rise above it !
“Christ is no security against storms,
But He is perfect security in storms.
He does not promise an easy passage,
But He does guarantee a safe landing.”
Clyde Gordon, The Triumph
magazine
|