Storms-Psalm 71

It is impossible to predict where a storm will go or when it will hit, but it is good to prepare for it. No one can say that their lives are exactly how they planned. You can know that storms are coming, and knowing how to prepare for them is the only recourse we have. The Psalms are written by "storm survivors." Storm secrets: 1. Storms can give you a brand new shelter that you didn't know you had. Where do we run when we have trouble? David ran a well-worn trail of trust back to the savior. A rock-massive mountain stronghold. Sometimes storms will come into our lives so we will seek refuge. Storms grab our attention and make us say, "I cant do this buy myself." We must understand that when storms come, we do have somewhere to go. 2. Storms can give you a new perspective. David's storm was that there was a group of people who were violently pursuing him (enemies). However, his enemies made a miscalculation. The world says: "when bad things happen, God must not be there." This is not so. Storms take us on a new course God is with us, even amidst the storm. Even when we were in our mother's womb, He was with us. "Few of us ever fully understand that the heat of suffering is the refiner's fire....all of God's wisdom comes at a very high price." -David Jeremiah "So bless you, prison, for having been in my life."- Alexander Solyhenitsym Do we bless God for our storms? 3. Storms can give us a new story. The hero of my storm is God not me. Remember who the hero was and continually give him the glory. God controls the storm. "There is nothing, no circumstance, no trouble, no testing that can ever touch me until first of all it has come past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose."-Alan Redpath Passion should increase with age because you've seen God move in the storms you've lived through. God, I don't understand this storm, but I accept it. The above is from sermon notes that one of my dearest friends gave me. She had been working at a summer camp in 2004 in Tyler, TX. I have read these notes many times throughout the years but in light of the many storms-phyiscal, mental, emotional, and spiritual-that I have been weathering I needed them to resignate in me again. Weathering storms these last few weeks has brought me to my knees. I have never needed the power of God more. The storms have come and with great purpose. The purpose is not clear to me yet...it may never be but I am so thankful they are bringing me to a new place with God and my family. It is in these storms I am clinging to him the most and for that I can only be grateful.