God in Storms - Day 41 Month 2 Week 6 Day 6
Isaiah 32 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2032&version=NASB1995
Matthew 26:14-35 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026%3A14-35&version=NASB1995
God in Storms
My thoughts in the last number of posts have led us to the two greatest commandments that Jesus gives us: love the Lord your God, and love your neighbour as yourself. So what happens when life is tough and, more than anything, you need a loving God to put His arm around you?
In our reading in Exodus, we are told about the plague of hail. We know that Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and because of that, God continued to bring plagues on Egypt. Sometimes, though, our hearts are not hard, or we do not realize that our hearts have become hard, or Satan is allowed to bring hardship even when we are soft-hearted, loving, and faithful to God. The hail comes down, and in one day something can change your whole life.
In the story of the plague of hail, Exodus 9:25 says, “The hail struck all that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field.” In your life, the hail may be the death of a spouse or best friend. It may be a severe car accident. It may be receiving bad news from the oncologist. Or perhaps you have been told that the place you have finally made a home is being taken away. Or how about one of your most trusted friends betraying you to the authorities, as in Matthew 26:21, and you are facing the death penalty. It can feel as though your whole world is being destroyed by hail.
Today, let us look at some of God’s attributes in Psalm 36:5–9:
“Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Your judgments are like a great deep.
O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.”
Sometimes, when life is difficult, we can only look at these statements intellectually because the pain is too deep. It may not feel as though you are able to “take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” Syl has been there when we found out that the assisted fertility procedure to have a child failed, and shortly thereafter was passed over for adopting a child after we were told we were a shoe-in for becoming her parents. She went into a deep and dark place and was angry that someone insensitively quoted this scripture to her.
My encouragement today is to read and listen to the words of this Psalm of David. Remember the lovingkindness of God. Know that He loves you, and that He brings “the fountain of life” to us, and from Him we “see light.”
If you are struggling today, consider spending some time in this Psalm and meditating on God’s lovingkindness. You may not feel it right now, but perhaps the self-talk during your meditation will begin to resonate as truth as you ponder your struggles.
I have just prayed, and I will continue praying, that everyone who reads this today will feel God’s presence surrounding them. I am praying for those who are experiencing anxiety over their circumstances, that God will bring peace to your heart.
I am praying that the lovingkindness of God will provide you with a great day today.
Steve
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