Storms
"Now this is what the Lord says- the One who created you, Jacob, and the One
who formed you, Israel- "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called
you by your name; you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the
waters, and when you pass? Through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will
not burn you." (Isaiah 43:1-2, HCSB)
A friend of mine told me he took his family camping. They were not that
experienced in camping so they rented a nice space in a campground and
pitched their tent there. He, his wife and two sons, who were in the first
and fourth grades, had a good time for the first day or two. Then about 3
a.m. one night, a huge thunderstorm came through the area. There were many
peals of loud thunder, torrential rain and heavy gusts of wind. My friend
said he looked over and saw his older son and wife sitting up, scared with
all that was going on around them. He was concerned that the wind might blow
the tent away and they would all get drenched. The younger son woke up after
one loud thunderclap but then laid back down and went back to sleep.
In the above Scripture Isaiah was prophesying to the whole nation of Israel.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been taken into exile but the
Southern Kingdom of Judah would be taken into exile in the future. God was
speaking through Isaiah to tell his people that He had redeemed them and
brought them to the Promised Land. He said they would have their trouble but
He would be with them during these troubles.
If Jesus Christ has called you by name and you have accepted Him as your
Redeemer, He will be with you no matter what the circumstance. This
Scripture says that there will be some bad times. Jesus, himself, said that
the Christian life would not be a bed of roses as some preach today. He said
there would be storms but He will be with you in the middle of these storms.
The boy who went back to sleep during the thunderstorm shows the kind of
peace that the psalmist wrote about: "In peace I will both lie down and
sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8, ESV)
If you put your complete trust in Jesus Christ He will give you the same
peace no matter what kind of storm you are going through.
By Dean W. Masters
Unedited redistribution approved