Have you ever been caught in a storm and realized that no matter what you do you are going to have to be exposed to it? You can run for cover but even by the time you get there you are soaking wet. Most of the time that storm is all you are thinking about. You're not thinking about the beautiful sunny day before the storm. And chances are you are not thinking about the sun that will shine tomorrow. The only thing you are focused on is what is happening right now.
No one is immune to troubles. Whether you want to admit it or not at some point in your life you are going to have troubles. Troubles that you've never expected, troubles that you knew were coming, or troubles that you have brought on yourself. It's going to happen. That's the way life works. But how you respond in the storm determines the outcome of the storm. You have several choices. You can run from the storm, you can hide from the storm or you can face the storm and realize that it's not going to last forever.
I know from experience that it is sometimes very hard to see how you are going to make it through the storm but one thing is sure, if you give up you will definitely not make it. It will seem at times that the end is surely in sight and blessings have completely vanished from your life. I can also tell you from experience that that is not true. Most of the time we get so focused on the storms that we seem to block out the blessings. Why does this happen? I believe the number one answer is we have taken our eyes off the one who provides the blessings. We get into a valley so deep the only thing we expect are the bad things. And instead of trusting God we try ourselves.
Yes, there is always a lesson to be learned but there are also blessings in every storm. I realize that it may seem like there is no other way but if you'll look for those little blessings, that is what will sustain you through the storm. Those blessings will quickly become reminders that God still loves you and that he is still on your side. They will serve as markers later in life as you look back and say Though I've had my share of hard times, by my side He's always stood. Through it all. God's been good.
Don't be so caught up in the destruction of the storm that you fail to see what's waiting on the other side.
