In the past, I’ve talked a lot about storms. I’ve talked about the things we can learn from the storms and how to get through the storms. Today, I want to take a different approach to the topic. You see, most of the time when we go through theses storms, we tend to wonder why. Why is this happening to me? In the end, it usually breaks down to two things: trials and temptations. Now, to understand the purpose of our storms, you need to know the difference between the two.

            Trials (as Charles Stanley puts it) are for the purpose of purifying and strengthening us. Temptations are for the purpose of enticing us to sin, to pollute us, and to weaken us. In other words, trials help us learn and grow while temptations hinder our growth. Both temptations and trials play a part in our storms. In the Bible, we see many examples of storms that people had to face.

            The first kind of storm that I want to talk about is the storm that comes as a consequence of our sins. These storms are caused by things like giving in to temptation or by disobeying God. For example, Adam and Eve. They were living in a paradise and the one rule God gave them was to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Both fell into temptation and ate of that fruit. Due to their actions, they were kicked out of the paradise God had made for them. They were now going to miss the great things God had for them. Another example is the story of Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh and to preach the word of God to them. His fear led him to run from God. This, of course, led to him being swallowed by a great fish. Jonah knew that he had disobeyed God and that this storm was because of his disobedience. When you are faced with the choice of disobeying or are being tempted, remember you don’t have to sin. God doesn’t allow us to be tempted more than we can bear. When we have the Spirit within us, we are able to say no to sin.

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16

            The second kind of storm we tend to face are the ones God sends to teach us something. God uses these storms to strengthen us. For example, I am sure you all know the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was told to offer up his son as a burnt offering. This must-have sounded crazy to Abraham for two reasons. 1) Why would God tell him to take the life of his son? 2) This was the son God had promised to him. However, instead of disobeying God, Abraham obeyed and prepared everything as God had told him knowing that they would both come back home. As we see, God told Abraham not to harm Isaac and to use the ram as the offering. God wanted Abraham to learn that the love he had for God was above the love he had for anyone and anything else. Trials are storms that purify and strengthen us.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

The third kind of storm is the kind that God uses to get our attention. He either wants to get our attention about something or wants to get our attention to bring us to him. As an example, God made the burning bush get Moses’ attention so that he may go to Egypt to free the Jews. Another example is the example of Saul (before he became Paul). Now, I told you before about how Saul took part in the persecution and imprisonment of many Christians. On his way to Damascus to find more Christians, God blinded him. I can only imagine how distressed Saul must have been. However, God sent a man named Ananias to talk to Saul and immediately Saul received his sight again. God used this storm to save a man who would become one of the most influential Christians of his time.   

The last storm I want to talk about is the storm God uses to show us and others of His glory. This kind of storm, in particular, has been on my mind this week. The best example we find of this kind of storm is in the book of Daniel. Everyone knows of the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. How he was thrown in the den for “breaking the law” and how God kept Daniel safe from the ravenous lions. When people look at this story, they tend to overlook King Darius. This King worshipped many other gods. Daniel worshipped the one true God and because of that, God gave him favor in the King’s eyes. The King loved Daniel and was very much afraid for his life when he was thrown into the den. However, when the King heard Daniel say that he was alive and well, he worshipped God and made it so that those in his kingdom worship God as well. While all those things were happening to Daniel, he must have wondered why. However, God used the storm to show the King of His love and glory by keeping Daniel safe and in turn the King was saved.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” – Romans 15:4

The next time you are facing a storm and you don’t know why it’s happening, ask God to give you understanding. We know that God will guide us through the storm. He always has and always will. We just need to keep our faith in Him. Don’t let yourself fall into temptation. Ask God to give you the strength to say no to sin. God will not let you fight alone. He loves you and wants the best for you.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,” – Psalm 91:1-5