“Storms in life are not meant to break us but to bend us toward God.” (Unknown)

As I sat out on the deck, I prayed cheerfully. “Father, guide me, show me Your glory!” I heard the echo of thunder in the background from the storm that would be above my head in about an hour. I have always loved thunder! Especially the big thunder boomers in Tennessee. It awakens thoughts of what God’s voice would sound like. The thunder that rocks the house brings to mind of what the Israelites heard from God when He spoke from the mountain top (Exodus 19:16-17, 20:18). When I asked God to talk to me, I, possibly like you, expected Him to be joyful and speak, “Bless you my child, you have only joy coming your way!” This time, He had a clearer, different message for me.

     As the storm grew closer, the leaves in the trees began to gently rustle. This is another act of God that I love. Remember the divine intervention when God told David when he was getting ready to attack the Philistines, “Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, ‘You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”? I smiled, thinking, God will give me answers for these difficulties I have been dealing with. But God had something else to say to me.

     Within a minute of hearing the leaves gently sway, the storm came in full force. The thunder sounded like a sonic boom. The torrential rain came in sideways sheets, knocking off the vase of flowers on my table and drenching everything in the screened porch. The wind was relentless. I ran for cover inside the house and listened as the tempest intensified. And then… as rapidly as it blew in, it stopped. No lingering light rain, no echo of thunder in the distance, no whisper of wind. Complete silence. I walked outside, stunned. I was seeking blessings, but God wanted me to seek Him.

     I remember when I was preparing to go to Peru to serve. God allowed me to go through a year-long process of being accepted by an agency and learning about the future work there. And then He closed the door… and was silent. I was shocked, confused, and wondering what to do next. Hadn’t He opened that door? I admit, I went into the entire experience confident I could do the job. I knew a little Spanish. The weather there was perfect every day, 365 days a year! I had been there before. The people were lovely, and I knew it was the ideal position for me… so I thought. But God remained silent except to show me one verse, repeatedly. Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” (NKJV)

     I felt confident in myself going to Peru. God can’t use people who are confident in themselves. God chose that specific verse for me because He would send me to a place I had never been, where I had no knowledge of the language or the thousands of dialects, and where I would be alone for many years. God wanted me to seek Him because He would be all I would have… and He was definitely enough, above and beyond what I could have imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

     So why was God trying to get my attention this time? Storms can be physical or personal. I confess that I have been doing some comparisons lately. Nonbelievers I know have been blessed abundantly. Believers I know have been able to do their dream ministry, and I’ve been chosen to occupy a stationary place over several years. It’s been difficult. I think about my age, how life is nothing but vapor, and I am anxious about not wasting one minute. But God has a purpose for every storm, physical, medical, and personal.

     I’ve learned much in this stationary place over the last seven years out of ministry. Of course, I do have the ministry of raising my disabled son. God has changed my character and is holding me accountable for my vow to Him to write about His faithfulness. He continues to get me to focus on Him and not others. I admit I have been focused on me and my situation too much… and the obstacles, most likely sent by the Enemy.

     Charles Stanley wrote:
“Are you facing something much greater than your ability to handle? Turn your fear and sorrow over to Jesus. Allow Him to take your hurt and disappointment. When He is in your boat, there is no need to worry.” I believe those who suffer the greatest on earth have the most tremendous confidence of sharing in His highest glory.

Remember the disciples in the boat with the storm that hit them (Matthew 14:22-33). Jesus sent the storm and brought them peace.

What is the purpose of your storm? Ask Jesus to show you what He wants you to learn.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:2-6/NKJV)