Yesterday
morning, I woke up longing for sunshine and the outside world.
Having a ton of homework meant that I would be
spending my day inside, but at least my blinds could be opened. So, I pulled
back my curtain and twisted the plastic stick only to reveal a picture of
dismal, grey clouds splattering raindrops on the ground.
Immediately,
my heart sank a little bit. Sunny days are my favorite, and I desperately need
them sometimes, but then, I realized a truth—without rain, all beauty would
cease to exist.
Think about
it. Flowers need sunshine and rain to
grow. If we never had rainy days, the flowers wouldn’t bloom, the gardens
wouldn’t grow, and all vegetation would shrivel away into a heap of nothing. If
we want a beautiful sunny day, a rainy day has to come.
The same is
true when it comes to our lives. Many times when storms and trials arrive, we
fall into despair thinking that nothing good can or will ever come from it, but
our God creates beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3).
James 1:2-4
states, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of
your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (NIV). Notice he
last three words: not lacking anything.
When we go
through a storm, whether it’s financial, physical, relational, or whatever
else, God promises that we will come out of it lacking nothing. If I never had
financial problems throughout college, I wouldn’t have strengthened my faith in
God, and I wouldn’t have many of the great friends that I do now. Through my
seemingly impossible situations, God has given me so much more than the
temporary thing I wanted at the time. The storm brought gorgeous flowers I would
have never imagined asking for.
I’m also
reminded of Romans 8:28, which promises “that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.” I don’t know what storm you’re going through today. You may have
just lost someone you love or maybe you’re facing financial struggles or a
serious break-up. Maybe you’re completely overwhelmed by all of the work you
have to do, but whatever the storm, remember three things...
God is with
you. Storms end in beauty. You’ll lack nothing.
Living Life Together,
Rebecca Thomas
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