Life’s Storms

April 17, 2008

By Dorothy Rugg

In the natural world there are different types of storms — thunderstorms, lightning storms, snow storms, hail storms, storms that do a lot of damage to our property as well as those quick rain storms that bring some light showers.

We also face storms of crisis in life. Some seem so devastating at the time, and we wonder how are we going to make it. As a pastor’s wife I have been with many people during their storms — health problems, divorce, financial meltdown, the loss of a loved one, a child born with a debilitating disease, a child who has strayed from the Lord, loved ones addicted to pornography, alcohol or drugs. The list could go on.

I have faced many storms myself — the death of my sister, special friends who have been afflicted with cancer, personal struggles that have felt overwhelming at times.

I was thinking recently about life storms and how they affect our lives. Each of us has a choice we can make — we can either blame God in anger, or we can release our storms into His hands and find His peace, strength and mercy to get through the storms. We need to try to see beyond the storm and allow the Holy Spirit to shape us into the person we need to become. We need to trust our life into the hands of Almighty God who says He will never leave us or forsake us.

When I allow the Holy Spirit to work in the storms of my life I find the peace Christ offers. If, instead, I angrily fight the storm, things get even worse. If we surrender our lives to the Lord we can turn to Him and trust the precious promises in His Word.

When Jesus and His disciples were in a boat in the middle of a terrible storm, Jesus could sleep because He knew He was in the Father’s care. The disciples were so concerned about the storm they forgot about Jesus. When in a panic they woke Him, Jesus said to the storm, "Peace, be still!" (See Mark 4:39.)

Jesus offers us peace in the midst of our storms. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your heart when you go through a storm. Stay in the Word. Keep praying and seeking after God. He has won the victory for all of us. Allow your storms to shape you and mold you into the image of Christ.

— James and Dorothy Rugg pastor Mill City AG in Dalton, Pa.