Pastor’s Corner: “Storm Rejoicing”
Romans 5:3 (NLT) – We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Have you heard about the tiny sea turtles that, when hatched, must make their way across the seashore to the ocean? If a person picks them up and helps them get to the water, they will die. Why? It is in their struggle through the sand that their little flippers are strengthened. People mean well. They think they are helping the tiny sea creature. But removing the struggle is actually harmful to the turtles. Without strong flippers they can’t swim. The waves overtake them, and they cannot survive.
How often have we wished for and even prayed for a trouble-free life? No problems – no trials. But like that tiny sea turtle, if we had a life without trouble and difficult circumstances, our faith would not grow. We would not develop endurance. We would be weak where we need to be strong. Jesus asks us to trust Him in our trials – to rejoice even when we find ourselves stuck in the middle of a storm. Not all storms come to disrupt our life journey. Some come to clear the path. Even the storms that come as a result of our poor choices, God still uses.
When God allows us to go through a storm, it is to allow us to see Him in a new way and on a different level. When God allows us to go through a storm, it is for us to receive something from Him that we cannot receive any other way. One of my favorite scriptures is in Isaiah and he nails this truth when he speaks for God: When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through 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 – Isaiah 43:2 (NLT).
In other words, no matter what kind of trial we face – God’s got us. Storms are for our good because they compel us to focus on the power and sufficiency of God instead of relying on our own competence. I don’t know about you but when a storm hits, I usually look for the nearest exit, hoping to escape those high winds and rough waters. I am more than willing to give up my seat in a rocking boat in exchange for tranquil waters and blue skies. Sound familiar?
We don’t like pain, we dread uncertain times and we like to be in control. To think that storms are for our good is a stretch to say the least. But Paul had this truth down! Paul certainly had his share of storms. He was imprisoned, beaten and faced his own execution. And yet he writes: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” Romans 5:3 (NLT).
To say that our world is in the midst of a storm is an understatement. But we need to look at our world with a different perspective, through God’s perspective. God is developing His church to be powerful and strong like His son Jesus for what the future has in store. God wants to use His church in amazing ways that we cannot fully comprehend yet. This cannot happen in our current state of weakness and doubt. Our faith and endurance need to be developed…..we need to grow! The storm that we are facing is a tremendous opportunity to grow. I believe while the storm is growing our faith and endurance, it is also clearing a path. God is so good (remember to rejoice)!
I don’t like the analogy and comparison of being like a baby sea turtle because I do not like feeling of being weak and helpless. But if I am honest with myself this is an accurate picture of my state and needs before God Almighty. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that my greatest growth has come during the fiercest storms of my life, but only by His great love and grace. Each storm has become a spiritual marker, a testament to the sufficiency and faithfulness of God. With each storm, my level of endurance and faith has grown. And that is a good thing – painful, but good!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton