When it rains it pours…

We have all heard that when it rains it pours. Bad times seem to come with a vengeance. I often refer to it as the downward spiral as event after event seems to compound my misery and I sink lower and lower into the toilet bowl of life’s misery. I worry less now than ever before in my life about the downward spiral because I know that eventually I will pop back up. My confidence comes from several sources. For one thing I am getting old and with age comes a greater understanding of life based upon experience. I realize that life has its ups, followed by downs, followed by ups, followed by downs. It is like riding a roller coaster.
A roller coaster is not all down hill with its thrills, nor does it always slowly, (boringly), climb to the peak. Sharp turns are encountered as are steep falls that will take your breath. Most people who ride a roller coaster want to immediately ride it again. Others want to throw in the towel. With life, there is no choice, ups, downs, and sharp turns are definitely going to be encountered, and throwing in the towel should not be an option.

Experience and age have taught me that after every storm, good weather is sure to eventually follow. I cannot say that I like going through bad times, because I do not! It’s like knowing that when I hit my finger with a hammer that it will quit hurting, but that is little comfort and solace; when it happens it hurts! Indeed I “dread” seeing the downward spiral descend upon me. I know from experience that it may get a heck of a lot worse before it gets better. When I see it coming, I just grit my teeth, hunker down and make the best of it by praying that God will see fit to shorten my stay in the valley, until it passes.

Indeed some of the trials I have experienced in my life make most problems that scare others out of their wits seem like a mere cake walk to me. We do not know why God allows some things to occur. It may be years later after we have endured a vicious storm when another serious trial faces us that the perseverance and character developed in the former crisis enables us to better weather the latest storm. I have often told my children when they complain about some misfortune that they really do not know what “real” problems are like. They know that I am serious as they are familiar with the tragedy and trouble I have experienced in my difficult past. I worry less now than ever because of my faith in God. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves me.
He has promised to take care of me “forever”. His word, the holy Bible, tells me that tough times are good for me and help to mold my character giving me patience and perseverance. My faith comes from studying the Bible and prayer. We should open our eyes, ears, and heart to what God promises regarding our future. Pray to receive patience during times of trouble.

I also get my mind off my problems by considering the problems of others. I try not to whine about my misfortune and instead count my blessings. Compare our situation to others throughout the world where two thirds of the world’s population does not even have a telephone and more are without air conditioning. Compare what is in our refrigerators and our big bellies to those poor souls in Africa dying from starvation.
Check out the community hospital full of medicine and qualified health professionals as opposed to nations where leprosy, polio and malaria routinely occur and treatment is all but non-existent. Turn on the faucet and watch the clean pure water flow and then compare to the millions of people who must endure contaminated water. Compare having freedom to those who do not. Free to worship, free to complain, free to move about the country whenever we please. Hmmm we just might not be as bad off as we thought.

God has blessed this great country enormously because, I believe, we have elected leaders like George W. Bush who acknowledges God as our almighty creator. Lord help us if the Sen. Kerrys and Ted Kennedys of the world get elected based upon their lies and Godless agenda and pursue their policies of secularism. (Don’t know how I got off on that tangent for this piece, but it is true and perhaps a great way to stop writing this long WFTD). Enjoy your day!


1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God did not appoint us to

wrath, but to obtain salvation

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us, that whether we

wake or sleep, we should live

together with Him.

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How well do you know the Bible?

God promised that one day the thorn would be replaced by a ___________ and the briar would be replaced by what ___________________?

Isaiah 55:8-13



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For a great Bible research tool, visit http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible

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