Storms – they altar the landscape of our lives. But how you stand and how you rebuild your life is not determined by the damage or change in the landscape – it is determined by the strength and integrity of your foundation and the resolve of your faith in Jesus Christ.
We have all seen people and families who are foundationless. Their lives are wholly based on the surface and landscape, and like the foolish builder, they are blown away by the storms of life. This is witnessed most often at funerals where the faithless family vainly attempts to take shelter under rootless trees. Their life is the landscape that so easily crumbles and falls around them.
Not so with the Christian. As a Christ follower, though you may feel your footing start to slip, though tragedy may knock you to your knees, a foundation of faith in God cannot be moved, for God is our Rock, our Fortress, and our Deliverer, and in Him we can put our trust (Ps. 18:2).
We can question and curse the storms. We may even question and curse God. But as mere humans, we do not and cannot fully understand the sovereignty of God. Wouldn’t you like some answers as to when and why and how God intervenes in our lives, or when he doesn’t? James writes that these storms bring about maturity in faith. Yet, there are times we still question the purpose and timing of storms.
This I know, God allows the storms, but he does not and has not abandoned us in those storms. God is with us. He is our lighthouse, our anchor, our hope that is secure, and our comfort.
I can't help but think of Job. Everything was taken from him. I think we can safely say that the landscaping of his life was wiped out. Job even said "Though he slay me, I will hope in Him." Job saw his own life as landscape, but his faith and hope in God rested below the surface; the pylons of his soul were driven deep into the bedrock of faith in God.
So when the thunder sounds, the lightning flashes, and storms of life beat against your life, head to the basement surrounded by the walls of God's love and protection.
