A friend of mine tonight mentioned in passing tonight that I am the type of person that will answer your question truthfully regardless of what answer the person asking the question is looking for. Which as the night progressed made me reflect on another friend of mine who is currently entering a difficult chapter of her life. A storm has blow into her life, not one of her own making, but rather one that is the direct result of another un-leasing sin and its terrible consequences into her family.
These sins and those who choose them are frequently the topic of my posts, these sins are those that our society has elected to turn a blind eye to, to tolerate; these sins unleash untold destruction, pain, suffering, and evil to those whom God calls His own. Frequently these sins are committed by those who profess that Jesus is Lord (forgetting that ‘Lord’ is not a name, but rather a job description), but almost as often by those who deny any relationship to Jesus. In both situations, God has made it perfectly clear that He will deal with those who injure those who have placed their faith in God and God alone.
Today however I am addressing those who are the recipient, those who are simply collateral damage of another’s sin; those who are suddenly thrust into the darkest night, when dreams, goals, family and life itself is being battered by wave after terrible wave. Each of us at one time or another will enter into one of these storms of unimaginable proportions, in the mist of it you will be presented with one question, the defining moment of your life. That one answer will shape your life; if you are playing attention you will realize the moment as such, because there will not be multiple options to choose from, there will be either A or B, yes or no, right or wrong.
To my friend, it appears that God is stripping everything from her, that like Abraham and Job, God has singled her out to test her faith. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is her moment of truth, God is reaching out to her, and telling her, “Don’t be afraid, take courage. I am here”
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Matthew 14:23-27
The truthful answer to the question, is that you are either going through a storm now, or are headed into the eye of a hurricane that you can not see; in either situation when the storm has come, remember Jesus’ reassuring words, “Don’t be afraid, take courage. I am here.”
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