Central Texans do not anticipate they will endure sub-freezing temperatures for a week. Our weather cycle usually brings in a night or two of cold weather with days reaching over the freezing mark. We especially are unfamiliar and generally unprepared for weather that hovers around two or three degrees through the nights. This scenario, coupled with electric outage and no water, leads to a perfect storm. Like millions of others, my wife and I slept in our living room, getting up every few hours to put more wood on the fire, and working feverishly to take advantage of power each time the electric came back on. It certainly will be a winter to remember.
The Apostle Paul once endured a storm at sea. Circumstances were so bleak that the 276 people on the ship could not see the sun or stars for many days and had given up hope that they would be saved. At one point in the harrowing journey the text reads, “…fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come” (Acts 27:29). There are times in our life when struggles overwhelm us and we simply hunker down for the night and pray for day to come.
God can use storms in our life to draw us nearer to Himself and teach us valuable lessons. Though adversity is never pleasant, it is a better teacher than prosperity. The Bible says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV). We grow stronger in our faith when we struggle through storms and gain a new perspective about life. Consider these lessons.
One, storms make us thankful for the simple things in life. Aren’t you glad this morning for that hot cup of coffee? Aren’t you thankful for that hot shower? Isn’t it wonderful when you flip the switch and the lights come on? Storms teach us to value the simple things that we once took for granted. The Bible declares, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father,…” (James 1:17, NLT).
Two, storms teach us to pray more for others. Enduring adversity equips us with empathy and not just sympathy. We know longer just see other’s pain, but we feel it. Storms remind us that even when times are rough, someone else has it worse. Your home may be cold but what about the person who has none at all? Your food may be cold but what about the one who has nothing?
Three, storms pass and brighter days arrive. Like Psalms 23:4, we do not live in the valley of the shadow of death, we just pass through it. Storms remind us that God faithfully brings us through. David declared, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalms 27:14).