Some of life’s storms come upon us suddenly as was the case for the disciples in the ship. (Mark 4:37) We suddenly lose someone we love; we have a bitter disappointment, a crushing financial situation, or a physical illness that threatens to change our life forever or even threatens to end it.

Other storms come more slowly.  You see the sky darken around you and the visibility of your life dims until it seems a black cloud has surrounded you.   It is during the storms of life that our God equips us for service. The history of mankind has always been rough and rugged.  No one that wishes to be of value in this world will escape the storms that shape and mold us.

Randy Travis sang the “storms of life are washing me away.”  God wants each of us to be washed away by the storms so He can mold us into His creation.  As life rages around us, let’s remember that God is there to guide us through the peril and bring us to the other side.

The next time you start to experience the tempest, thank God for his abiding presence and embrace the new you!