David Ralph

The Storm Is Coming

As I drove into the church today, no matter what radio channel I listened to, it was all about the impending snow storm that is to arrive over the next 24 hours.   One radio station was “in the street” asking people what they are going to do to prepare for the storm.   There were all sorts of practical suggestions when it came to being prepared.   Preparation for the upcoming storm would make it possible to ride out the storm – that was the feeling of many who responded to the question. 

Sitting at my desk I began reading Acts 16.  Paul and Silas faced a storm – not of snow or rain or wind.  But a storm of opposition to the preaching of the gospel.   The storm included being arrested, being flogged severely, being thrown into a cold, dark and damp prison cell, chained together to prevent any possibility of escape.  How did they ride out the storm?  We are told at midnight, after being beaten and thrown into prison, they started to pray and to sing hymns of praise to God.  They rode out this storm by worshipping God.  Would that be my response?   Would I worship and praise God or would I be ticked off at him?  After all, these men had served God faithfully and sacrificially, shouldn’t they be spared from this storm?  So often that is our line of thinking and then we are disappointed with God when the storm comes.  But not Paul and Silas.  They worship God in the middle of a severe circumstantial storm.  The important questions is, “how were they able to ride out the storm with this kind of response?”  It had everything to do with how they had prepared for the storm.  They had a continual abiding relationship with Jesus.  They constantly worshipped God through prayer and singing and solitude long before the storm ever came.  They had developed a depth of relationship that gave them confidence in God’s power and presence long before the storm happened.  Without this kind of preparation, they would have never been able to ride out the storm.  They would have given into the temptation to question God, given into their doubts about God and his ways and given into complaining about the way he let the storm come into their lives.  The would have ended up being disappointed and disillusioned with God.  It was all about preparing prior to the coming of the storm.  Jesus told us that storms would come into our lives (John 16:33).  How are you preparing your heart and mind and soul for those impending storms?   How you prepare determines how you will ride out the storm.  If it seems calm now, are you preparing for a storm that might come.  When there calmness, it is easy to not even think about preparing for a storm and that is where most people get caught off guard.  Then a circumstantial storm comes and little or no spiritual preparation has been made.  The storm overwhelms them.  It all comes down to preparation.

The flurries are starting to fall as I look out my window.  The news said the storm is approaching and gaining in intensity.  I have filled up the washer fluid and made sure I have lots of gas.  My snowblower is ready.  Shovels are in a strategic spot.  I feel I am well prepared.  Bring on the storm.