It’s amazing how, in a commute just a little over an hour, the weather can change so much. Jim goes south, so he finds that the temperature rises about 5 degrees whenever he goes to work. Once he gets into the city, with the lack of green space and trees, the temperature goes up even further.
We just stay here, but the weather has still been pretty wild. One minute it’s too hot to walk barefoot on the ground, and the next, the clouds have covered the sky, and it feels like you’ll soon have a visit from a tornado, or a hailstorm, or pouring rain. Sounds like summer in Michigan, you say? Yep. (Wait 5 minutes and it’ll change.)
The clouds have been awe-inspiring, though. I am amazed at the beauty God brings out during the storm. (I especially love storm clouds!)
I have written before about how the coming storm can create fear in us, fear of the unknown being the worst fear (“Finding Peace in the Midst of the Storm” series of posts), but I want to add just one more reason why we don’t have to fear the coming storm: Because the storm brings a “shaking,” and by destroying the temporary or partially functioning things, the way becomes clear to build those things which cannot be shaken.
Now, you may not like that idea. Letting go of things that are temporary doesn’t seem very comforting; after all, what isn’t temporary? Do I have to lose everything?
Well, yes. Jesus said to leave it all behind and follow Him.
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:5)
However, He also promises us that whatever good we lose for His sake will be given back with interest.
“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:29)
Here are a couple of things to consider while you view the impending storm: One, everything that we have comes from God. He literally planned it all out, planned for us to have the children we did, and planned for us to be made the way we are. He gave us every good part of ourselves, and He put us where we are. We have no control over most of those things, but God did. So anything that we have is from Him, and He can restore all of those things to us, if it is His will. (Look at the story of Job!)
But the second thing is that God is the One in charge of the storm.
He sees everything that happens all over the earth, under the earth and even inside people’s hearts. There is nothing we can do to escape God. And while He does allow us to continue to use our free will, including those to do not acknowledge Him, He is still in charge of how far things can go.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For what a man sows, so also shall he reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
God is merciful and loving, but He is also a God of justice. The writer of Hebrews reminds us to fear God because “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)
I shake my head at myself, sometimes. Do I really think that God doesn’t see what’s going on? Or that somehow the efforts of a group of men will undermine His power? Oh no, that will never happen, because it can’t. We might feel that way because God waits in His mercy. We feel his loving kindness and become concerned that the wicked man won’t face justice.
But don’t mistake kindness and long suffering for weakness. God does have the will to punish those who hurt his children, and those who reject His Son, Jesus Christ. No man, no matter how much money they have, or how much counsel they receive from a wicked spirit, can ever overcome, out-think, or outmaneuver God. For even the wicked spirit, which may be more powerful than any may by himself, can never be greater than the One who created him. It’s impossible.
So we should never be afraid of what man can do to us; only what God can do to us.
We are like little children wandering around on this earth, half-blind, but thinking we can see. When we trust God, we are safe; but when we trust ourselves, we are vulnerable in the short run, and without hope in the long run. For we cannot save ourselves.
God made us limited; but being say, nearsighted, is just a temporary state. We have limited resources unless we trust Him, Who is unlimited. One day, when this life is over, and we have been made perfect, God tells us that we will see everything with the same clarity with which He sees us (“face to face”).
“But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, and I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly (a mirror), but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known. ” (I Corinthians 13:10)
And because we can’t see everything God sees (similar to the way we cannot see the full spectrum of light), we need guidance. God is holding out His hand, waiting to show us, and all we have to do is to grab hold and not let go. God will never steer us in the wrong direction, no matter how it looks to those who rely only on themselves. God can see everything, past, present and future. He can see the spiritual world that is invisible to us. He has better eyes than Superman! (Of course, since Superman is only our idea of an idealized man, but God is higher than we are in every way.)
God is Good, and He loves us. So we can trust Him to lead us into the paths of truth.
His word reassures us of that over and over again.
Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. (Psalm 24:4-5)
Your hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding that I may keep your commandments. . .Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. . .Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore does my soul keep them.” (Psalm 119:73,105,129)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel and marrow to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8)
But we want to trust ourselves and our own eyes. And sometimes we see true; but sometimes, we don’t. And we don’t know the difference between when we can and when we can’t. We can only move by the light we have. So because we don’t know for sure what to hold onto, some of the things we hold to are the wrong things, the temporary things that don’t last.
“When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.” Hence, the shaking.
When we are shaken by God (or when He allows us to be shaken by others), He is helping us let go of the things that are holding us back. If it’s breakable, it’s better for it to break, than for us to spend all our time trying to protect it, only to have it break, anyway.
On the other hand, if we are meant to have something, then God will make sure we have it.
So while we are here on this corrupted, cursed earth that one day will be renewed, we can expect some shaking. Some of the shaking will be pretty fierce. But we do not have to fear, as long as we are holding onto our Father’s hand. God will protect us when we need it, and He will also let us be shaken, when it’s for our own good.
“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. . .God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:2-4;12 NLT)
So when you see those dark clouds rumbling along your way, Be Strong In the Lord! Hold onto His hand firmly so that you will not be shaken, and let all the things of man go–well, don’t let your friend who loves the Lord go–God doesn’t want you to lose them any more than He wants to lose them! All relationships based on the love God gives us will last. When God builds something, it lasts forever and ever.
May you be blessed as you trust in the Lord, my dear friends! And I will pray for God to bless and keep you close to Him.
The Fullers Four 