“Lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding.” (Psalm 148:8)
The winds were contrary when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were contrary on their way to the promised land, and they were contrary when they got there. There is no such thing as a storm-free voyage: “Through … hardships and tribulations we … enter the kingdom” (Acts 14:22). When you have to fight to stay afloat day after day, it’s easy to get discouraged. Paul said, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days … all hope … we would be saved was … given up” (Acts 27:20).
Maybe you’re weary and discouraged because of what you’re battling. You’re ready to call it quits — and humanly speaking, nobody would blame you. But before you give up, ask yourself this: What if God is the One engineering this storm to get you where you need to go? What if He is the One who “spoke and raised a stormy wind” (Psalm 107:25), so you would have to keep your eyes on Him? What if He is the One who “hurled a great wind on the sea” (Jonah 1:4), to see if you would keep the faith when you can’t see the far shore?
A psalmist tells us God uses “fire … hail, snow … clouds [and] stormy wind” to fulfill His word. In Exodus 10, He “directed an east wind on the land all … day … and … night; and … it … brought the locusts … [He] shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea” (vv. 13, 19). And in the 23rd Psalm we are comforted by the words of “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am not fearful, for You are with me.” Note, we don’t take up residence in the valley of death’s shadows, we are accompanied through them.
Prayer
Lord, as I walk through the storms and shadows of this life, help me to keep my eyes ever on You. Let Your Holy Spirit and Your Word give me the peace and strength to walk on this path You have made for me.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
