When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2
Yesterday, I wrote the devotion I was going to post today. Needless to say, God has a way of interrupting my plans to fulfill His purpose. After the thunderstorm passed over, I heard in my spirit “this too shall pass.” Immediately, I knew I would be writing a new devotional for today.
In A Tale of Two Cities, author Charles Dickens stated: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” This perfectly describes the times we are living in right now. People are hurting, scared, broken, and living in a state of uncertainty. God wants you to know that THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
The storm I woke up to was nothing pretty. The sky was dark with heavy rain, strong winds, thunder, and lightening. However, the storm did not last the entire morning. It eventually passed. Although the storm passed, remnants of the storm remained. I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't tell you that the storms in our lives do affect us. Storms leave things behind. For instance, the ground was wet with water this morning from the thunderstorm. If a storm is strong enough, there may also be tree branches, debris, destruction, and damage to things we own and hold dear to us.
Sometimes we hear the phrase “this too shall pass” and assume it means that once the storm is over everything will be well. However, like the thunderstorm I experienced this morning after the worst passed, light rain remained. Some of you have moved passed the worst of your storm, but there are still remnants of the storm in your life. Storms of divorce, unemployment, church hurt, abuse, addiction, betrayal, loss, deaths, struggle, heartbreak, disappointment, and lack can leave behind scars of pain, hurt, fear, doubt, bondage, anger, unforgiveness, insecurity, pride, and hopelessness. You never thought that storm would come that would cause you to file for bankruptcy and lose everything. You are the healthiest and most physically active person in your family, and never thought you would be diagnosed with a terminal illness. You never thought you would still be single despite the desire for a spouse, and living a life of obedience to God. You never thought you would be unemployed after giving that job 20+ years of your life. You never thought you wouldn't be able to have kids, while watching friends and family members that don't want kids give birth to child after child.
We ALL experience storms. Storms can break us figuratively, physically, and literally, but the good news is that there is a God that will stick with you in your storm to give you hope, comfort, peace, strength, and joy. Please know that this storm you are in, and the storms you have experienced, are NOT your end. The leftover remains are not there to hurt us but to strengthen us, and allow God the opportunity to heal those broken areas in our lives. God wants His desire for you to become your desire, and sometimes that is accomplished only through storms. We never fully understand and appreciate joy if there’s no pain, light if there’s no darkness, and victory if there’s no struggle.
God never promised that there would not be storms, trials, or tribulation. Jesus expressly stated: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). However, God promised that he would never leave or forsake you, and He keeps his word. God is ALWAYS our source of protection, strength, and peace during unknown times. Storms are not permanent. Storms ALWAYS pass. areas within us that God wants to strengthen and heal. We can only give people what we have. Our struggles are not just for us. There is someone who needs to hear how you made to the other side of your storm. There is someone who needs to see how you crawled, limped, hopped, or jogged out of your storm. There is someone that needs to hear and see how you are still standing in the midst of your storm. People need to hear your story…your testimony. People need to see your life. Your story has value. Your life has value. Your storm has value. YOU HAVE VALUE!
There is something about stormwater. I went to this website that explains the difference between stormwater and wastewater and found a powerful excerpt:
“…The stormwater system…. is not designed to carry sewage or accept hazardous wastes. Stormwater is the rainfall that is not absorbed by the ground. Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes surface runoff, which either flows directly into surface waterways or is channeled into storm drains, which eventually discharge to surface waters. It does not flow to a wastewater treatment plant. …”
(https://www.mountpleasantwaterworks.com/waste-water/versus-stormwater)
The stormwater in your life was not designed to bring you sewage or hazardous waste. I know it doesn’t feel like or look like it, but the storms in your life were not meant to destroy you. The beauty of stormwater is that it flows into surface waters. Stormwater is rainfall and snowmelt. Surface waters are lakes, streams, and ponds. Stormwater eventually empties into surface waters, so it is important that stormwater be as clean as possible. Our storms reveal those areas within us that God wants to strengthen and heal. We can only give people what we have. Our struggles are not just for us. There is someone who needs to hear how you made to the other side of your storm. There is someone who needs to see how you crawled, limped, hopped, or jogged out of your storm. There is someone that needs to hear and see how you are still standing in the midst of your storm. People need to hear your story…your testimony. People need to see your life. Your story has value. Your life has value. Your storm has value. YOU HAVE VALUE!
No discipline (or storm) is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time…[l]ater, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11). The water from your storms does not flow to anything wasteful, but it flows to your purpose and your destiny. ALL things work for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
The stormwater process involves a step called filtration in which solids are removed by passing through sand or soil, and pollutants are treated. God can use the storms in our own lives as a mechanism to expose, heal, and/or remove harmful pollutants (i.e. harmful habits, people, relationships, fears, insecurities). But in order for that to happen, we have to pass through something, just like the stormwater. Storms were never meant to be permanent. Storms ALWAYS pass.
No matter how much damage the storms in your life may have left behind, I want you to know that you are valuable to God. I want you to hear this because someone needs to know that YOU HAVE VALUE. God doesn’t base your value on anything but his love for you, and He will never stop loving you.
I speak healing to every broken area in your life. I speak victory over each and every piece of debris that storms have left in your life. I speak healing over childhood hurt, negative words that have been spoken over your life, relationship hurt, family hurt, church hurt, abuse and neglect, abandonment, and rejection. I speak healing to the areas in your life that you don't even recognize needs healing.
God never promised that there would not be storms, trials, or tribulation. Jesus expressly stated: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). However, God promised that he would never leave or forsake you, and He keeps his word. God is ALWAYS our source of protection, strength, and peace during unknown times.
Remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
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