Storms: Who is to Blame, and our Response?

I woke up Monday morning to catch and feed a couple horses and to my surprise the round coral they were in had almost two feet of water in it.  They were standing in a new pond.  It turns out neighbors up-river had opened a water gate to relieve flooding.  This spring has been a year of disasters: from Japan, to Joplin and even significant flooding here in Missoula Montana as well as across the states.  (Below picture taken in Missoula Montana: Third St Flooding 2011)

The Book of Matthew chapter 27 shares some of Christ's words that could relate to many situations we find ourselves in.  24Every one therefore that hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: 25and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26And every one that hears these words of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: 27and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. 


The one thing both home owners in the above text had in common was a flood.  In the fifth chapter of Matthew talks about the sun shining and the rain falling on the just and the unjust.  I have often heard the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people."  I heard someone say "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond."  I recently shared a message on a Sunday morning called, "The way we see the problem is the problem."


I have had things in life I tried to or would like to blame God for.   It is important to not shrink away from problems but to allow them to test and try you.  If you find your house shaking, take inventory of what is shaking. Our growth in life doesn't come from the great times as great as they are.  I believe our spiritual and emotional maturity is grown through storms.  


Someone taught me gold is purified by fire.  If you want a pure metal, heat is applied so impurities can rise to the top.  When heat is applied in your life what comes to the top?  Who do you turn on- when things get tough.  We have to remember not to turn on someone but to turn to THE someone who can help.  Jesus said "Whoever hears the words of mine is like a man who built his house on the rock."  


A few things to remember while going through a storm...

1. God does not always work miracles and acts of providence for our deliverance from suffering; sometimes by faith God sustains his people through sufferings.

2. Having faith is not the ultimate determining factor in whether you suffer or escape, God is - God's sovereign will and wisdom and love.

3. The common feature of the faith that escapes suffering and the faith that endures suffering is this: both of them involve believing that God himself is better than what life can give to you now, and better than what death can take from you later.

 Take time today to thank God for what you have. Cherish the victories and long summer days.  But don't shrink from adversity and only cast blame.  Find the victory in adversity.  Is your house built on the rock? (Below picture of Surfers on Clark Fork River:Missoula Montana)