Some Times He Calms The Storms

Years ago, an old violin maker always chose the

wood for his instruments from the north

side of the trees because this was the

side the fierce windstorms beat on.

At night, the storms came and the winds blew;

the violin maker could hear the trees groaning

and moaning under the lashing of the storm.

But he did not feel sorry for them.

They are simply learning to be violins," he said.

Romans 8:28.... and we know that all

things work together for good to them that

love God, to them who are called

according to His purpose.

Tough times.....we all have them.

The apostle James said to count it all joy

when we fall into divers trials. The Bible

assures us that not only will we have trials,

but we'll have many of them.

Jesus said in the world we will have

tribulation, but to be of good cheer,

for He has overcome the world.

How do we handle tough times? When the

cold winds of adversity come and we

are reeling because we do not know what to

do, or not do, what do we do?

When in the natural realm we cannot see

how God is working for our good, do we

give up? Or do we stand firm and

steadfast because we are trusting in Him?

First of all, we have to realize that nothing

comes into our lives that is not either divinely sent

or permitted. Then we need to realize that

everything that befalls us is first filtered

through His loving Hands.

Trials as used in James is of a beneficial

purpose and has a planned effect. We are

assured of God's abiding presence always.

In Psalms David is praising God.....

" whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or

whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I

ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there; if I

make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art

there. If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

even there shall Thy hand lead me,

and Thy right hand shall hold me."

God has a plan for each of our lives, and

His plans are perfect. Often we fail to

understand things because we have not really

gotten hold of the fact that God really and

truly loves us! His plan is also to

conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus.

1 Peter 1:6-7.....

"wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now

for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness

through manifold temptations: that the trial

of your faith, being much more precious than

of gold that perisheth, though it be tried

with fire, might be found unto praise and

honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Although things may look hopeless in

the natural realm, we must not be moved by

that. If we have Jesus, we can have joy in

our trials, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

We walk by faith, not by sight.

If we keep our focus on Jesus and not the

circumstances, we will not be swayed when

strong winds come. We are strong in the

power of His might, when we arm ourselves

with the whole armor of God.

When the storms come, ( and they will ) and

the winds blow, (fiercely at times) we want

our God to say of us:

" I'm not feeling sorry for them, they're

simply learning to be my children!"