Have you ever experience one of life’s storms? I am not talking about just having a bad week where things just don’t go right for you. I am talking about a serious, grab your children and take shelter kind of storms. If you have, then did you grow through the storm or did you merely go through the storm?
It is inevitable that life is going to bring you bad days and sometimes bad seasons. This happens to the best of us and there is nothing we can do to keep it from happening. However, I have found that you can be blessed even when the storms rage without mercy. We have a choice to make and that decision changes everything.
Take for example, a sunflower. This magnificent beauty brings color and enjoyment to our lives. With its bold yellow petals and tall sturdy green stalks, it stands high full of strength while radiating joy and peacefulness.
This sunflower has many purposes in life. From its roots to its stem to its leaves and to its seeds, it gives many things to us. You see, most of the sunflower can be used for other things but just like you and I, it must grow and mature first.
Now here is the “ah-ha” part. The source of that growth is water and how does God water his flowers? YES, by RAIN! You see it could never bloom if it did not grow and it could never grow if it did not have water.
You have probably heard the phrase, “When it rains, it pours.” It refers to when many bad or negative things happen all at once. But a pouring of rain is not necessarily a bad thing.
When it rains down on the sunflower, it takes in that nourishment and soaks up as much as it can. That water then blesses the flower from the ground up. Just by natural process, the water enables it to grow healthier and stronger so that it can be a blessing to the world.
Now here is the best part. After the storm has passed, (as it always does) the flower then is shined upon by the sun. The refreshed sunflower raises it’s head up high and shows it beauty while releasing the fragrance of joy and basking peacefully in the sun’s warm and comforting rays.
Just like that sunflower, you have many purposes in life and will go through your own storms. When you do, know that it will pass and the sun is sure to shine again. Also know that the storm’s rain can bless you from the ground up as well. You will be stronger, wiser, and better than before.
So the next time a storm is upon you, I want you to soak up the rain and allow it to bless your life. Look on the positives that you will gain after it has all passed. If you look only at the negatives, then great opportunities will be missed and the storm will be without good purpose.
Know that the LORD is with you and for you every day and through every storm. You have purpose in life but sometimes we can only grow through the watering of a storm.
One thing that helps me when times are bad, is thinking about Jesus sleeping during the storm in Matthew 8:23-27. Though it was raging outside, he slept peacefully.
If I have complete faith in my LORD, then why should I worry about a storm either? If anything, I know He will get me through it and I will even be better off because of it! God is THAT good!
Understand that storms are going to happen. When they do you have two choices. You can either:
- GO through the storm
- GROW through the storm
If you only go through the storm then it is opportunity wasted. However, if you choose to grow through the storm, then that is opportunity seized and well used. Please look for the good in everything…including storms in your life.
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