Howling and moaning

I observed the beautiful weather yesterday and bemoaned the fact that I did not go fishing instead of sitting in front of my computer pecking away on the keyboard writing my book. It appeared to be a gorgeous day for fishing and I went for several walks on my dock. On one such walk I happened to notice a few black clouds forming on the horizon and by the time I got make inside, literally within a minute or two, a vicious storm blew in. Huge waves were crashing on my dock, lightening was flashing, and torrential rain was pounding down and even went horizontal for a moment or two.

How quickly things can change.

This reminds me of life. Things can be rocking along and everything is great, and then it seems like the sky is falling. It is sometimes difficult to maintain a steadfast faith in God at these times. This is a paradox because “most difficult times” are the very times that we need God the most.

I firmly believe that if we drift away from God and backslide, hard times can be allowed to come upon us by God in order to draw us back to Him. I do not believe that God micro-manages our every move, but I do think that He is personally involved and will intervene when it is in our best interest.

Our best interest? How can it be in our best interest to fall into
hard times? If we have moved away from our God, our Father and only hope of salvation, it is in our best interest for God to use “whatever means necessary” to draw us back toward Him and away from the temptations of satan.

Some of us are so stubborn and defiant that we have to get to the point whereby there just is nowhere else to turn, before turning to God to save us. Alcoholics and drug addicts and other addicts have found this to be true. It seems that some of us just have to reach rock bottom before we will seek help.

Other folks may not be that drastic, but backslide into sin just the same. The jolt of sudden misfortune will quickly remind us all of just how short and fragile our lives really are, and that we need God far more than anything this old world has to offer.

Some folks get mad at God because of hard times. My children used to get mad at me when I would punish them. In reality, I disciplined them because I loved them. It was for their own good. They howled and moaned and I’m sure at the time that they would not have agreed that I punished them because I loved them; however today, I’m just as sure that they would agree it was for their own good and was done because indeed I loved them with all of my heart.


Similarly God allows tribulation in our lives, but He still loves us. God punishes sin, but He still loves us. God states in the Bible that His love for us is sufficient to get us through the worst of the worst.


Trust in Him and keep the faith and he will maintain you through “thick and thin”!. I thank Him for both the bad and the good that He allows me to experience in my life. I do not like to go through hard times, but I know that it is for my own good. I just try to trust in the Lord and keep the big picture in my “mind’s eye”. i.e.. The shortness of this hardship-filled life versus an eternity of splendor and peace. Then I “try” to grin and bear it…

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2 Timothy 18
And the lord will deliver me
from every evil work and preserve
me for His heavenly kingdom.
To Him be glory forever and ever.
Amen!



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