Weathering the Storm

Yesterday, while I was working, I experienced one of the summer thunderstorms that Northern Colorado is known for.  Usually they come in quickly, dump a lot of water, and then disappear almost as quickly.  However, they never come in at an opportune time and rarely are you prepared for them, even if you payed attention to the weatherman.  They often hit when you are busy doing something that you would prefer to be dry for.  Needless to say, I got drenched from head to foot.   However, I still managed to get my work done.

Sound a bit like married life?  Comes in quick, makes a mess, happens at the worst times, can leave just as fast but leaves you all wet...yea, that's how storms come and go.  But, the storms in married life don't have to leave you defeated or depressed.  You may not necessarily feel mighty and victorious but you will know that you got through another storm.

Jesus' disciples found themselves caught in some storms during their time with Jesus.  They freaked out just like we do but still made it through the storm.  I doubt that they felt powerful after the storm; they probably felt pretty foolish seeing as they were WITH Jesus (in the flesh) and they still were worried about their tiny little lives.

I don't believe that the storms that we endure are always from God but I do believe that He uses them to draw us closer to Him.  When the disciples feared for their life they ran to Jesus.  When the storm gets ugly enough we do the same...or at least we should!  And when the storm is over, we learn that we have not died and that we CAN make it through.

I have had to work (at my actual job) enough times through ugly weather to know how much I can take before I call it quits.  Today actually pushed me a little farther than I would usually endure.  My client asked me if I wanted to step into the garage while the storm raged.  I declined.  Not because I love the working in mud and rain and hail but because I was almost done and knew I could finish it if I set my mind to do it.  I got the work done in a relatively short time, in spite of the rain.  And besides, I was already wet!  Why wait in the garage and be wet when I could be wet and have the work done?

Translate that to our marriages...I am sure you have dealt with some ugly situations in your marriage in the past.  Maybe a fight that got out of hand or some hard choices that you eventually had to deal with.  Either way, you made it through.  You didn't die.  Maybe a little rough around the edges now but you're on the other side of it now.  So, the storm you are facing now is pushing you farther than you would like.  You have two choices...1. Get wet in the storm and have to deal with it and have nothing to glorify God with or 2. Get wet, deal with it and let your stand bring glory to God.  Either way, you are going to get wet!  You might as well be wet and have stood your ground for your spouse and your marriage.  You cannot escape the storm...you're already in it...might as well finish the work, endure the storm, and make God look good.

The more storms you face, the more you will learn how to deal with them.  It doesn't mean you will EVER like the storm but you will KNOW that you are bigger than the storm because the God inside of you is bigger!!

1 John 4:4b

...because the Spirit who lives in you

is greater

than the spirit who lives in the world.

Josh and Serena