Six Things About Storms

I hope this blog finds all of you in a time of getting things sorted out after the storm called Michael.  Michael was a tangible, touchable and evident storm that is now embedded in our memory and in our history.  People will talk about Michael and where they were, what they were doing and how they coped.  For some it will be about the near miss.  For some it will be about how they survived.  For some it will be about the hard work in the aftermath.  Almost all of us will quickly place Michael in our past and move forward.  It is clear Michael has passed and we are all glad!

Isaiah has a great passage about the storms of life.  It is verses 43:1-3a.  Here is what it says.  "listen to the Lord who created you!  O Israel, the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name and you are mine.  When you go through deep waters I will be with you.  When you go through the rivers of difficulty you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up ... the flames will not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  WOW ... lots said!

Now ... six things about storms:

1. God says ... don't be afraid.  And He tells us why.  We are ransomed, purchased ... the Bible would say 'redeemed.'  We are a possession named by God Himself.  And God cares about His treasured possession, the people who are His!

2. We will go through deep water.  The verse says 'when you go.'  This and several following passages remind us that the condition of life includes those floods that come our way.

3. We will have difficulty.  I hope you know and realize this.  God promises the ability for us to have peace in all circumstances but He does not promise peaceful circumstances.

4. We will experience the fire of oppression.  Again, 'when' is used.  We cannot expect a life without oppression and if we follow Jesus.  John 15:20 says, "Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you."

5.  God is our God.  In Leviticus 26:12 God says "I will walk among you.  I will be your God and you will be My people."  The Hebrew word used for 'walk' only refers to human perambulation.  God is saying that He will walk among us as a person.  Jesus did just that!

6. God is our Savior.  God is the only thing/person/entity that will be our salvation when the storms come.  Paul said it perfectly in Romans 8:38-39.  "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.  No power int he sky above or in the earth below, indeed nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love if God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

An that's the truth!  Randy