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Encouraging Men Along Life's Journey January 28, 2013
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God In The Marketplace
GETTING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES - The Greatest of the Worst
"When the storm has swept by,the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever." Proverbs 10: 25
Christians should not be surprised when we are doing our best to do God's will and suddenly find ourselves in the middle of a storm. We also must always be aware that God will never place or allow a storm to come upon us in which He cannot sustain or deliver us. Each storm is an opportunity to come closer in our walk with God as He refines and teaches us.
What we consider the worst time in our life can be the the greatest hour in our life. It can be a time when we really get to know God and to experience his tremendous power, His abundant grace, and unfailing love. God never promised that the storms would not come into our life. But He did promise to lead us through the storms. Yet, God has a lot more in store for us than just delivering us from the storm. We must trust that He has our best interest in mind and be willing to do our part and let Him do His part.
Part of our responsibility is to make the best decisions we can. Every decision has consequences - either positive or negative. Verses 13-15 of the 27th chapter of Acts relays to us where Paul's journey to Rome once again places the captain of the ship with another decision. A gentle wind had begun to blow and the captain took this as a sign that all would be fine for the voyage. However, once out to sea a wind of hurricane strength came up and threatens to destroy the ship and all aboard.
Now in those days there was no such thing as the Weather Channel. There was nothing to give them warning of the hurricane that lay ahead. That sometimes happens to us. We are caught by a surprise event that can play havoc in our life. An instant decision is needed, yet we don't have all the information we need to make the right decision. We need advise and time to think and pray, but time is not on our side, the situation demands an instant decision. The pressure is on to get the ship going so we can deliver the goods. Our future and the future of the company may rest on our decision
Proverbs 12:15 states: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advise." How do the wise know their decisions are sound and how do fools know theirs are not? History shows us that most people do right in their own eyes. Our world today is full of folks who live as ships going through waters with no true rudder or anchor. There is nothing solid to guide them and to steer them through life. We are the captain of our own ship. We each have our own view of who God is. For many, there is a God we want and a God who is and they are not the same God.
We are urged by popular spiritual leaders to look within ourselves for the heart has the answer. But the human heart is not always reliable in matters of wisdom. " My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of the Lord." Proverbs 2: 1-5. It is God and His word that gives us solid wisdom. If we are walking daily with the Source of wisdom, then we have an immediate Source when the storm strikes.
" For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." Proverbs 2: 6-8.
In the mist of a crooked and perverse world whose hearts are full of distortions and lies, why not set our sails on a ship with the solid Rudder and Anchor that always prevails. Therefore, when the storms come we can persevere, for we have been with the Captain and we know whatever the outcome our Anchor holds.
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