Many people fear storms, though. My mom said that as a young girl she would watch and pace the front porch of their home as a storm approached. My grandpa was a farmer and he was often working in the fields until late in the day. It didn't matter if my grandmother and all of the rest of the family were there. She wanted her daddy. If he was there, everything would be alright. His presence calmed her.
When the inevitable storms of life appear, where do you seek security? Do you have a life ring to hold onto when the boat is sinking? Where do you turn when you get bad news? Maybe there are cutbacks at work and your name is on the list. The investments you depended on for retirement disappeared overnight in a failing economy. The medical tests came back positive. Your spouse wants out of the marriage. Your son or daughter is using drugs. There's an addiction in your life you can't overcome.
How do you face it? For solace, do you turn to food, or pornography, or alcohol, or an improper relationship? Pills might numb the senses, or you can get a temporary high from credit card purchases you don't need and can't afford. Many times I have made wrong choices when a storm or trial came into my life, choosing a crutch instead of clinging to a Savior. In doing so, we may find temporary relief, soon followed by emptiness and guilt.
There is hope for the hurting in the security of a Daddy's love. No, I don't mean an earthly Daddy, but a Heavenly Daddy, an Abba Father. The same God who created the universe loves us so much that He gave His only son as ransom for us. The only way to have an Abba Father relationship with God is through His son, Jesus. Jesus left heaven, came to earth and lived a perfect, sinless life. He freely paid the price required, suffering death on the cross. His death made a way for us to have life everlasting in Heaven when we die, instead of eternal punishment in hell, which we deserve.
Jesus is a gentleman; He never comes into your life without being asked. He won't force you to accept His salvation gift. Many more refuse than accept. A simple prayer and the faith to believe is all it takes. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, ask God's forgiveness for the sins of your life, choose to turn from sin and follow Him, be adopted into God's family, gaining the right to call God your Abba Father.
Am I saying that as a follower of Jesus and a child of God you will no longer have trouble and storms in your life? No, but I am saying that God wants what's best for you; He'll hold you close and help you endure it. There is a song that says it well: "Sometimes He calms the storm, but other times He calms His child".
Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney
Romans 5:8: "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."-NASB
I Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."-NASB
No comments:
Post a Comment