Have you been going through a rough time lately, or anticipate one coming? Recently hammered by one of life’s storms myself, I came across this awesome verse promising to give us all we need financially, stop stress and bring beautiful sunny picnic weather.
Isaiah 25: 4 says “You [GOD] have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat.“
Then I looked at it again. Oops. I realized it did NOT say God would make the poor rich, remove all distress, stop the storm and cool the heat. Darn.
So just what does God promise for those of us who have chosen to believe Him for our lives here and eternally? It occurred to me that God deliberately (on purpose!) made us to need Him. 24/7. Why did He not just give us a lifetime supply of all we need, and take off? Could it be because He wants us near Him? God created us uniquely for a living, growing relationship with Him. 24/7. Forever. Otherwise, we might as well just be a cactus.
Jesus went through all he did on that cross, the separating barrier was ripped apart, and now we have free access to God forever. How dare we not just run into His arms?!
The storms of life are lovingly designed by God to bring us closer to Himself. And now I see that HE IS the strength in our constant need. He does not remove the painful circumstances, but instead uses them to draw us into His everlasting arms. HE is our strength IN the storms and needs and pain and stresses! I would rather have the storm any day safe in the arms of my strong God, than have the sunshine without Him. And thank God I am not a cactus.
