Storm Damage
Without apologies, herein is an admission of my enjoyment of thunderstorms! A dear friend of mine said, “Only God can make a thunderstorm.” I enjoy watching the lightning, seeing, or hearing the hard rain falling, and listening as the thunder begins in the far-off distance and increases its intensity as the storm approaches my location. Afterward, if the sun is shining, there’s a rainbow; God’s sign of a convenient agreement with Noah the long ago that He, God, will never again destroy the world with water. Yes, there are marvelous wonders to be observed in a thunderstorm!
Just as surely, thunderstorms often create some havoc in their wake. Lightning has been known to cause fires and heavy rain results in flooding and erosion problems. Locally, a recent storm flooded vast areas of farmland that had just recently been planted. In yet another local area, a flooded stream floated dead trees into a bridge and nearly destroyed the roadway in the process. Loss of electrical power seems to be the most common of storm damage problem. Isn’t it surprising how dependent we’ve become on such things as electricity? Some of us remember a bit more “primitive” time when “lights out” meant the conservation of this “modern commodity” and the loss of electrical power wasn’t considered as critical as it is nowadays.
Perhaps the most stressing of today’s storm-related inconveniences is the Internet. Even with power restored, the workings of Internet service, especially in the country where fiber-optic connections have not yet become realities, fixed antenna connections, and TV receivers are vulnerable to long-term interruption. For those of us growing more dependent on Internet services, the inconvenience seriously impacts our work. Again, most of us can remember our research materials were called “encyclopedias, pencils and notebooks and the use of libraries” and communication devices had dials on the front of them, and parental limitations on time use!
But never fear! While these inconveniences occur, they usually are quite temporary. We have learned well how to deal with these interruptions and so we adapt and overcome. Yes, at times we express frustration and perhaps some anger, but there truly is little we can do about the situation other than exhibit patience, tolerance, and acceptance that some things are beyond our control. Aw yes, it is the CONTROL we miss, isn’t it!
And that brings me to the point of this article. The storms of life are not unknown to any of us. At the very least, we find ourselves unwillingly subjected to such storms; conversely, we may be the cause of such storms! But in both situations, we need to learn to deal with the consequences of the storm. Especially if we are the cause of the storm, we need to quickly stop our thunder and lightning and adjust our attitude into a bright rainbow of assured peace and tranquility! Otherwise, we are bound to do more harm than good with our demeanor. Read and examine Romans 12: 9 – 21 and learn that the Christian is to be the peacemaker (compare Matthew 5:9) and never the instigator of destructive conduct.
If we are the “victim” of such storms, we are again responsible for our actions in response to such turmoil. If we panic, we are unprepared. If we are angered, we must be cautious in our expression of anger (see Ephesians 4:26). It helps to pattern your responses to such storms after Christ. He was more frequently accosted by revilers, taunting minds, and those that quite simply and plainly hated Him, than we’ll ever be! Yet, notice His example: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” (1 Peter 2:23). In doing so, He avoided a lot of “storm damage.”
While sometimes very violent in their approach and arrival, thunderstorms are actually very helpful in some unappreciated ways. Have you heard the expression, “Let’s clear the air?” Guess where that comes from! Yes, the lightning, as well as the rain, combine to actually “clean the air” in a way that mankind simply cannot duplicate and certainly cannot surpass! Similarly, when storms of life occur, have you noticed that when settled righteously, (i.e., God’s way instead of man’s far less capable attempts), the settlement leaves the situation clean, pure, and resolved? Matthew 18:15 – 20 teaches us this very fact!
Physical damages created by storms are usually correctable, albeit they can be costly. This is one reason insurance companies charge such high premiums: repairs are expensive. Likewise, the storms of life are usually correctable, and at times can be costly. Yet unlike natural storms, few if any of life’s storms need to be so damaging as to cost friendships, fellowships, or more importantly, SOULS! The “insurance” for such protection against losses is CHRIST JESUS! If every Christian were to think, speak and act as Christ did, then damages, as we have examined, would be quite minimal, and never caused by the righteous! (Colossians 3:17)
So, the next time a thunderstorm rumbles through the area, take the time to be observant of its approach, its presence, and its effects, and then look for the rainbow! Do the same with all of life’s storms as well. They truly shouldn’t last long, and in fact, most should be more like gentle rain than boisterous thunder, and sharp lightning! Let’s all seek peace and ensue it (1 Peter 3:8 – 11).
--- mjd