Everyone loves a great hero and the story. The hero is unaware of the quest that lies ahead. The hero goes through major storms: monsters, evil enemies, dangerous terrain, insurmountable journeys. They begin non-exceptional, but are transformed into exceptional through their diversity. They push through fear. And most often they are fighting not just for themselves but for others. Robin Hood, Marty McFly, Frodo Baggins, David (as in David and Goliath), Eowyn, Harry Potter and Hermione, Arthur before and after he was King. Every time they faced a storm, and they pushed through fear, they are transformed into remarkable. Because of the storm. Many of you are heroes too. Because of your storm. So what follows the storm in your life? I see four positive outcomes: Growth, Change, Blessing, and Joy. Negative, heartbreaking and devastating outcomes exist as well. So how do we get to the blessing and joy? Making it through our storms is all about how we respond, what we choose. But, my heart and mind and spirit wants to rise up and declare that God’s intent when He allows the suffering is something worthwhile–something good, and yes, something glorious!
Growth
Lessons are taught when children fall. Think of a little one, taking her very first steps. There’s
just one step or two; and then down she goes. And what is the parent’s response? Clapping and cheering and saying “Look what you did! How marvelous!” She gets up and starts again. This same joy and encouragement is witnessed with the first attempts on a two-wheeler. There is no condemnation or a sense of defeat. That tender love does not rescue the child who might experience some discomfort, disappointment, or pain. Why? because that child is growing through the struggle. Most of us accept the reality that growth happens when we fail. Trials allowed by our Father in heaven are His tools for shaping us.
“So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children.” Hebrews 12:5-7 (the Message)
Change
Trials are the tipping point. Storms can be the watershed. A turning place. A crossroads. God longs that your suffering creates a better you. Impatience can turn to patience. Pride to humility. Foolishness to wisdom. Confusion to understanding. Hatred to love. Self-pity to confident hope. Anger to compassion. Trials and sufferings have changed me. It began within–a change of focus and attitude. I was terrified in my storm. God sought me. I began to write to Him, pray to Him in my journal. My storm left me with questions. I began to search for answers and turned to God’s Word. He gave me so many answers and still is today.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:3-5
“Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah…Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and loving kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you.” Charles Spurgeon
Blessing
Story after story abounds of how a man, woman, or child comes out of a storm stronger, wiser, and richer in spirit. They have received blessings through the storm and after the storm. What is even more amazing is they have gone through the fire and are now re-cast and re-shaped to be of service to others.
” All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” II Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessing—what does that mean? Being blessed brings calm. It is living in God’s favor and grace. It’s receiving His goodness, happiness, satisfaction, or success. Blessing is being in a spiritual and emotional place that is better than before. It motivates me to go further with my hopes. It truly gives me a sense of being loved. I am prepared to empathize and listen to someone else who is in the midst of their own storm. I am equipped to encourage.
“God’s response to suffering is to be with humanity, as Immanuel—God With Us. God does not save the world from evil and suffering by eliminating it. He saves it through suffering. Christians have helped to eliminate pain–William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King, Jr., Christians in South Africa to end apartheid. Christians can work on a one-on-one basis, doing more to convey the truth of a loving God than any theological answers could do. The Body of Christ can be one of the greatest answers to the Why? ” C. McDougall
Have you known of someone who has gone through incredible sorrow or pain? You are amazed at how they have come through their storm? They long to serve others? Some have become HEROES through it all! Here are some of my heroes:
Joni Eareckson Tada Jordan Mitzel Theresa Flores Rich Dixon
Joy
Joy is a precious gift from God. It is finding the heart of God. His greatest Storm was giving up His Son. He knew it would bring joy. “Joy is a supernatural delight in the Person, purposes, and people of God.”
“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.” James 1:2-5 (the Voice)
“Through faith you are kept safe by God’s power. Your salvation is going to be completed. It is ready to be shown to you in the last days. Because you know this, you have great joy. You have joy even though you may have had to suffer for a little while. You may have had to suffer sadness in all kinds of trouble. Your troubles have come in order to prove that your faith is real. It is worth more than gold. Gold can pass away even though fire has made it pure. Your faith is meant to bring praise, honor and glory to God.” I Peter 1:5-7 (NIVR)
Joy is the result of making it through the storm. God draws near to the former addict who found God’s power to help him overcome. Joy. God draws near to the parent who almost lost her child to suicide, but gave her hope and a future instead. Joy. God draws near to the person who is dying from cancer and is saying how blessed she is. Joy has come.
“You can’t consider it joy when you’re filling your mind with entertainment to distract you from that pain. You can’t consider it joy when you’re filling your heart with anger to deflect that pain. You can’t come to the joyful conclusion when you’re filling your body with substance to mask that pain…God is near to you when your heart is broken and saves you when your spirit is crushed.” James McDonald (devotional on suffering)