The Set Of The Sail

This week has been one doozie of a week.  It seemed like everytime I turned around something bad was happening to GOOD PEOPLE.  People were dealing with the loss of a job, infertility, financial burdens, family issues, problems with ex-spouses, depression, gossip, legal issues, illnesses, and loniness.  Can you believe all of that happened in one week???  I'm sure it even does in  one hour the way our world is today.  My heart breaks when people hurt...even more so when they are so dear to me.

Ironically, my preacher spoke about "surviving storms" Wednesday night at church.  The scripture that he read from was Matthew 7:24-29. Here you will find the story of the wise man that built his house on the rock and the foolish man that built his house on the sand. They both experienced the same storm; however, one survived and the other one did not. 

Here are a few things Preacher Morton shared in his sermon about storms.

• storms are inevitable...we all will face them - Christians and non-believers
• storms can be good
• our darkest moments are the ones during storms and is when we pray the most
• storms can help reveal God's plans
• there is no storm bigger than our God
• there are some storms that God allows
• some storms are not our fault, but some are
• storms can bring us closer to God
• there are no storms in HEAVEN

Why do bad things happen to good people? 

Have you ever asked yourself that question?  I have...I do...I am sure I will again.  This makes me think about Job in the Bible. Job was a righteous man that suffered much.  He was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1)  Job was an honest man, and God knew Job's integrity.  No matter what Satan did to Job, he maintained and did not deny his integrity.  He even kept his tongue (Job 2:9-10).  How many times do we encounter storms and the first thing we want to do is lash out at the person or thing causing the storm?  I have in the past...I may get weak and do it again...I will pray to have the integrity of Job from now on and hold my tongue.  Holding the tongue requires much prayer on my part. 

What storms did Job face?  Satan took away everything Job had of value. His oxen & donkeys were stolen, sheep burned, camels stolen, servants and his children killed.  Job lost it all.  Satan also took away his health; gave pain and misery through boils and ulcers over his entire body.  He even tempted him with his wife. What was Job's response? Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:9) 

In the end...

Did Satan win the battle with Job? No, through his unwaivering faith, Job survived. 

Was Job suffering as the result of a serious sin or sins? NO!

What had he done to deserve his sufferings? NOTHING! 

Had God sent the suffering to test Job?  NO, God allowed Satan to test Job. 

Did Job realize or understand the reasons behind his suffering? NO! 

Was Job happy about what had happened to him? NO! 

What do we do when we are faced with storms?  Turn to Jesus, pray, maintain your integrity, hold your tongue, be patient, praise God for the blessing inpsite of the troubles, keep your faith!  Filter every storm through this:  Romans 8:28...And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  God loves us and he knows what's best for us.

A philosopher, Jim Rohn, spoke about the "winds of life" - winds of adversity, winds of trials, winds of challenge...

the same winds blow on us all. The difference is the SET OF THE SAIL.  None of us can choose whether challenges blow our way, but we can choose our attitude, how we react to those challenges, and to whom for which we turn.  Set your sail toward God...be the ship that reaches the other shore, not the one that is blown back on to the rocks!