Taking it very lightly, I go out and tell my hubby to check the weather. Next thing I know he's telling us to get in the hallway. Still not taking it very seriously, I took my time getting us all to the hallway. Mattresses were ready. He could see the wall cloud. He was telling me we still had time to get out of dodge. Nah, I thought.
Then I received a message from our school…anyone needing to seek shelter from the storm may do so at the secondary school. Okay, so this totally got my attention. This must be more serious than I thought. My hubby said we still had time to load up and get out of the path of the storm that was coming straight for us. I said, yes! We loaded up quick.
This is the picture I took about 4 miles from our house…At that moment I was thankful we didn't stay!
Once the storm passed we went home. We pulled up to find our yard covered in egg size hail. Our vehicles covered in dents with broken windshields. We could only imagine the damage our roof had. It was bad. I woke up that night to a wet puddle at my feet…I THOUGHT I WET MY PANTS! No, we had a leak in our bedroom and discovered many more.
We were excited that our chicken coop withstood the storm and their wasn't a feather harmed on our ladies. I looked at my garden and it didn't look too bad. I still saw lots of green. Then tonight, four days later, I finally had the chance to work intending to pull weeds. No. My garden had been hit hard. Now up close, I could see the beating my plants took from the hail storm.
Wednesday night at church our pastor asked…What type of events really rattles people's faith? So many things were listed…divorce, addictions, illness, loss of a family member, loss of a job…I'm sure you have your own personal trial you can call your tornado of life.
The next question was…Have you ever seen God bring good out of a bad situation? Yes. I immediately thought of my best friend. Her son was diagnosed with cancer at the age of two. If that's not a storm, I don't know what is. That's enough to shake anyone's faith. Oh, but the good that came out of it. A non-profit Christian organization that ministers to families diagnosed with pediatric cancer. So much good God is bringing from this difficult storm they endured.
Friends, are you going through a storm? Are you being beat down? Can you barely stand? Know there is a God ready to care for you and tend to your every need. He is our Rock of Refuge. Trials can have so many purposes…strengthen our faith, prune us, draw us closer to God. Whatever the reason, I do know this…GOD CAN BRING GOOD FROM ANYTHING. God can use your greatest pain to become your greatest ministry.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have a full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-3
I'd like to share these assurances in the storm by Pastor Dace…
1.) God loves us and is for us.
2.) God is in control of all things.
3.) We come to know God in a deep way during trials.
4.) God has good for us, not bad.
Finally, I am here for you.
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