It’s been said that we find ourselves in one of three places in life: we are either coming out of a storm, in the midst of a storm, or heading directly toward a storm. You may not find encouragement in this statement, but you will find truth. Storms, trials, and struggles are not something that we can avoid. They’re not something that we need to fear, either.
Imagine for a moment what Paul and Silas experienced in Acts 16. Here they are doing a great work for the Lord. They’re heading out to the place of prayer when they come across a demon-possessed slave girl; a fortune teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. Paul and Silas were confronted day after day, to the point where they became exasperated by the demon within her. Finally, Paul confronts the demon and commands it to come out of her. Instantly it left her, and this woman’s life was radically changed – and it rocked the city!
As a result of her freedom, her masters hopes for wealth are shattered. They respond by grabbing Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities of the marketplace. A mob surrounds them, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. We’re informed that they were severely beaten and then thrown into prison. But wait…weren’t they doing a good thing? Weren’t they doing the Lord’s work? How could God allow this to happen? Where is He in all of this?
Paul and Silas are placed in an inner dungeon and their feet are clamped into stocks so that they wouldn’t escape. What a horrible chain of events! How can this be, and what good can possibly come of all of this?
Paul and Silas didn’t sit around feeling sorry for themselves. They didn’t reject or renounce their faith in Christ. They embraced Him and never took their eyes off of Him. We’re told that in the midnight hour – during a dark, lonely moment of the night – they were praying and singing hymns to God! They not only gained the attention of their fellow prisoners, but they touched the heart of God.
The result? There was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All of the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! In the process, the jailer turned to Paul and Silas and asked, “what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas were released from prison the next morning.
Are you in the midst of a storm? I’ve been with my health, off and on since the beginning of January. I wish that I could testify that my response was similar to that of Paul and Silas, but it wasn’t. I have often felt sorry for myself. I have been frustrated. I have asked God, “why?” Neither of these emotions or questions will lead to my breakthrough. I’m still in the midst of my health storm. I am learning, however, that if Christ is in the vessel, I can smile at the storm. He’s with us…in the midst of our storms!
On the first Sunday of 2011, in the midst of my lamenting about my sore back, my wife Serena firmly spoke these words into my life. She said, “Kris…you need to worship the Lord. You need to seek Him and stop focusing on your pain.” I was initially less than impressed. In fact, I was frustrated by her advice. Once she left the house to worship with our church family, I found myself asking the Lord to forgive me for my attitude. I began to worship the Lord. I soon found myself taking my eyes off of the storm, and focusing on Him. That afternoon, the Lord spoke a word into my life. My pain and discomfort began to lessen as I worshipped the Lord!
I’m learning more and more each day that His grace is enough. I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. I’m not alone. He’s with me. And he’s with you, in the midst of the storms. Never forget the promise and hope that we find in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
It’s hard to identify God’s purposes when we’re in the midst of trial, but I can assure you that He is at work, perfecting our character – molding us and making us more like Him. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus – the author and perfector of our faith!
Kris,
When I often share scripture like that with my husband I too get the same response. In fact sometimes he’ll stop me before I even go there. He’ll say something like this to me, “Don’t even quote scripture at me or I’ll lose it!” I’m not trying to be trite or cliche, but I know there have been times in my life that people have reminded me of scripture & I know it, but have simply forgotten it. I personally need that reminder.