STORMS

Why does God allow storms?

Today our forecast calls for high winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain. That is pretty much the outlook for much of the week. Depressing.

Last week was the one year anniversary of the terrible tornados that ripped through the Mid South, causing damage and destruction in the millions in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee. I'm sure that when many of those people whose homes and lives were affected by those storms hear a thunderclap, something within them shivers!

A fellow class member shared Sunday that he had lived for a time in the Chicago area. He spoke of all the snow and ice and dreary days...all of which he did not miss AT ALL!! He said there was a period of 66 days when there was NO sunshine !! Let me tell you, I would NOT have survived!!

I am solar energized. I do not do well when there are long periods of gray skies! I remember a few years ago, we went for weeks like that. I was miserable! It just so happened after a few weeks that we flew to Miami for our first cruise. I can remember how wonderful it was when we got ABOVE the clouds and we saw the sun break through. It was HEAVEN!!

So back to the original question....Why does God allow storms?

Well, I think there are many answers to that, but the simplist is so that we will appreciate the sunshine.

If all we ever had was sunshine....no rain, no storms, no heavy clouds....we would so take those sunny days for granted. But....when we've spent days inside due to cold or rain, when the skies have been dark and gray, when we've not had the warmth of the sun on our faces for a very long time and then....THE SUN COMES SHINING THROUGH....oh is that not a glorious day?!!!

Last week, after much cold and rain, we were supposed to have beautiful, sunny weather. In fact, it was supposed to be near 65 degrees. I was keeping my granddaughter that day and was looking forward to our spending the entire day OUTSIDE. This child LOVES the outdoors!! She is in her glory digging in the dirt. (Think I may have a gardener on my hands??)

However, the day dawned gray and dismal with a cold wind blowing. We were both disappointed. Finally, about 4:00 the wind begin to die down and the sun emerged from behind the clouds. I said to her, "Hey...I think it's warm enough for us to go outside a while. Do you want to go?" Without a moment's hesitation, she dropped what she was doing and darted for the door, all the while saying with joyful exuberance, "Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss...yet's go, Mimi!!"
As soon as I opened the door, out she flew, running with all her might, with a grin on her face as wide as the Mississippi!

Now in the summer when it's always warm and sunny, with rarely a rainy day, she is still happy to go outside, but the exuberance is not quite the same. Why? Because it becomes a daily occurrence.

God allows the periods of dark in our lives...our storms...to make us realize what a blessing it is to have those peaceful, sunny days when all is going well. We tend to muddle through our busy days, not giving a thought to the peace, until it comes crashing down in the darkness of our storms. Then, suddenly, we LONG for those bright, sunny peace-filled days.

If you are experiencing the dark night of a storm, just remember storms do NOT last forever. The sun will indeed shine again. At first you may see only a glimmer on the horizon, but be encouraged...it will SHINE again. Until it does, cling to Jesus...He will be your light in the darkness of the storm.

STORMS

Storms tore through the state of Tennessee, as well as other southern states, last night with a fury seldom seen in this area. It was such a tremendous storm that the National Weather Center issued more than just tornado warnings....they issued a TORNADO EMERGENCY ALERT. Now if you don't think that will get your attention, think again!

This storm had been brewing and heading this way for days and as it got nearer and nearer, the more ominous it appeared to be. Weather forecasters pre-empted broadcasting at 4:00 pm and did not go off the air til near midnight.

The skies had been growing darker and darker all day and as the storm drew closer, the winds picked up. Just last week, we had experienced high winds, with gusts up to 70 mph which downed trees and powerlines throughout the area. So the prospect of high winds, tornados, extremely large hail and heavy rains was cause for great fear.

We have a small wooded area at the rear of our property so I was watching as the trees swayed back and forth, waiting for one of them to snap. It was nearing dusk and I don't like not to be able to SEE what is happening outside. If a tornado IS coming, I want to see it and KNOW it. At night when it is so dark, you can't tell. You just have to listen for the "freight train". With winds howling, I beckoned to my husband to come from his shop into the house.

Our daughter called and was out running errands when she heard on the radio a tornado was nearing her home. She was stuck in a line at the drive-through section of the bank...unable to go forward or backward. I urged her to get home as quickly as possible. She is terribly frightened by storms, so I knew that her stress level was rising. Later she would call to tell me that her husband was en route to the hospital where he works as a paramedic in the ER. He was having difficulty getting there due to the massive amounts of debris, downed trees, and flooding. That gave me cause for greater alarm, knowing he was not at home with our daughter and granddaughter because I knew how fearful she would be in such a devastating storm. We offered to go and stay with her, but she refused, saying there was nothing we could do anyway. She was hunkered down with her 21 month old daughter in the hallway with her baby's little chair facing a children's movie in the den and she, watching the weather from the other direction in the bedroom.

Our son and his wife were unable to get service on their phones except for texting, so they texted to check on us and to let us know they were ok. What a relief! Their home sits high on a hill and we had heard reports of tornados in their area. Our daughter kept calling and calling them and FINALLY was able....miraculously...to get through. He sent word to us and his wife's family by her that they were fine.

All evening I was checking on others as I heard more reports of damage in different parts of the city. Only morning light would reveal the real extent of the massive damage. Union University in Jackson, Tennessee was practically obliterated. All of their buildings but one were heavily damaged as were most of the vehicles on campus. Estimates are over 30 million dollars in damages. Students were in the dorms which received the greatest damage. Thankfully, only 9 remain hospitalized and there were no deaths. Faculty retrieved all of the students, taking them home with them. That is the beauty of a small Christian campus. They came together as family...because, in fact, they are!

As I reflected on this storm this morning, I thought how like the storms that often blow into our lives. Sometimes we see the storm clouds gathering well in advance of the actual tumult. In those cases, we can begin to prepare....praying, gathering our prayer team around us to lift us up to Heaven's throne. Our church family gathers around us and meets our most pressing needs without even being asked.

Sometimes, however, the storms come unexpectedly without warning. Those knock us off our feet, turn our world upside down and leave us reeling in the aftermath. Yet we still need the same resources. We need people to pray. We need arms to wrap around us and encourage us with kind words and prayers. We need practical needs met...meals prepared, children cared for, groceries bought and houses cleaned. We need daily encouragement through phone calls, emails and cards.

Most of all, we need God to hold us close, to assure us of HIS presence and to know that He is in control, that He will see us through the storm. Thankfully, He promises just that!

"I have called you BY NAME. YOU ARE MINE! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord THY God, the Holy One of Israel, THY Savior....you are precious in my sight...and I love you....fear not for I AM WITH YOU!" Isaiah 43: 1b-4

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord THY God is with thee wherever you go." Josh. 1:9

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!" Psalms 30: 5

"Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses." Psalm 107: 13

"Fear not for I am with thee, be not dismayed for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with my right hand." Is. 41: 10

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