In the Midst of the Storm

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

Psalm 139:7-12

As I sit in the quiet of the morning, I am reminded of life’s uncertainties. I awoke this morning to the news that a church member (Randy Trotter, pray for them) had experienced a catastrophic and potentially life altering accident in Colorado.  My heart aches for them, but I trust that God will make His presence known in an overwhelming way.

This news made me think of another church family, the Jentsch’s, who faced a similar crisis a few years ago. They faced a very dark night as their son, Caleb, was injured in a skiing accident while in Colorado. They now stand on the other side of that crisis and have an incredible story to tell of God’s faithfulness. You can read about it here.

Another story came to mind as well, the evening that my mother called and told me that my dad had collapsed and the ambulance had just taken him to the hospital. I will never forget hearing the words, “Darrell, I’m pretty sure your dad is gone.” In that moment, it did not seem real. How could a man who was fine moments ago be gone just like that? He had just been given a clean bill of health after a pretty serious fight with cancer. Now, a heart valve had failed him and he stepped from this life to the next.

What do all these crises have in common? They do not represent a time when God was absent. They represent a time when God stood right in the middle of the storm with His children. They represent a time that God said, “My child, you may not understand now, but you will.” Regardless of what we face, God is with us. We can pray with the Psalmist, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? …If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! …If I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, your hand shall lead me…your right hand shall hold me.”

I do not know what you are facing on this day. However, I know this…God is with you. There is no place that you can go to escape His presence. While the storm may rage against you, do not lose hope. God has not deserted you, He is standing with you.

Thriving in Times of Difficulty

Nearly the whole of Luke 21 deals with the fact believers will face incredible persecution as the end of times draws near. We are warned of all sorts of difficulties that will come our way. We were never promised that the Christian life would be easy. In fact, we are told in Matthew 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master’ If they persecute me, they will also persecute you.”

The question for us is, how do we face such times and still honor our Lord? The text of Luke 21 gives us three ways. First, we must walk in the Spirit. Verse 14 says, “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer.” He has just been talking about the fact that believers will be persecuted, arrested, and brought before the officials. Jesus says, don’t worry about how you will answer ahead of time. In the moment you need an answer, He will give it to you. The ability to walk in such freedom, not worrying about what to say if something happens, can only come from trusting God’s Spirit to lead us.

Second, we must endure. When times get bad, it is difficult to keep pressing on. However, this is exactly what Jesus calls us to do. In verse 19 He says, “By your endurance you will gain your lives.” It is by our endurance that we prove we are truly committed to Jesus Christ. If we bail at the first sign of things getting difficult, then there was not much of a commitment there.

Third, we are to long for the return of Christ. Verse 27 says, “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” “And then.” These two words point to the fact that suffering will precede the return of Christ. If we are not aware of this fact, then suffering could turn us away from our faith. However, if we recognize this fact, then we are prepared to face the difficulties ahead with full assurance that our Lord’s return is near.

Let us continue to walk in faith. Times will get hard. Some of these difficulties are just normal for the course of life. Some of these difficulties will be a direct result of our faith in Christ. Regardless of the root of our difficulties the solution remains the same: walk in the Spirit, endure, and anticipate the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.