STORMS IN LIFE
Sometimes it’s the little things in life that makes a big difference. A life jacket is certainly a small thing that can make a difference. Experienced fishermen and seamen know the benefits of wearing a life jacket. A life jacket could be the difference between life and death. But, as we know, people don’t always listen to good advice and so every year people drown.
Our lives are like the ocean or the seas. Sometimes our lives are calm and serene. At other times, our lives are turbulent as the winds and waves of adversities beat against us. Even Jesus experienced problems and heartaches. He had many storms in His life.
It is true that sometimes we create our own storms in our lives and have no one to blame but ourselves. We learn there are consequences to our actions. Sometimes there may be storms caused by others that we have no control over. No matter the reason behind the storms, God is always in control. James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2) NIV
Soviet novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn was sent to prison 10 years for his dissident writings. After 10 years in prison he wrote, “Bless you, prison, and bless you for having been my life. It was there lying on that rotten straw, that for the very first time I understood the purpose of life is not prosperity as we have been made to believe, but the maturing of the human soul.” It is during adversities that we learn what really matters in life and what doesn’t. We can’t really appreciate freedom if we have never been to prison. We cannot appreciate good health if we have never been sick. We cannot appreciate being warm if we have never been cold. Troubles teach us patience, humility and the true values of life.
We cannot stop the storms of life from coming our way. They will come. This is a fact. Some storms will last a brief while, while others last longer. Some storms will be mild and some will be severe. Apostle Paul was on a ship that was caught in a severe storm. It was only when the time was right that he told the men on board to abandon ship and swim for safety. (Acts Chapter 27) There were 276 men on board and not one of them perished. (Acts 27:37-44) NIV Paul was certainly a great man of faith. Yet, he spent more time in prison than he did out of prison. He was beaten, stoned and even left for dead on one occasion. Paul learned “humility” through the things he suffered.
- It is the irritant in the oyster that produces the beautiful pearl.
- It is the crushed flower that produces the perfume.
- It is carbon pressure under the tremendous pressure of tons of earth that produces a diamond.
