Focus. Or Pressing on Through the Storms.

I like thunderstorms in Texas during the summer. Sometimes, they can be intense in their ability to provoke much anxiety, yet they always pass. Recently, we've had two major ones back-to-back, that threatened tornadic activity. So we kept the news on as long as possible while all four of us, my wife, my mom, my unborn daughter, and myself, huddled up in tiny closet awaiting the passing of the storm. All ended well and without any collateral damage.

In obvious manner, as much as storms are used metaphorically to symbolize various trials in life, I have learned valuable lessons through them. One of my most favorite quotes of all time is from Pastor John Piper, "One of God's gifts to us in suffering is that we are granted to see and experience depths of His Word that a life of ease and comfort would never yield." Most would never consider suffering to be a gift, yet two things are consistently self-evident reminders in life: storms produce a measure of guaranteed suffering (especially to those whose trust is in God) and storms always pass sooner or later.

When I've had to drive through those summer storms in Texas, which is a rare occurrence since I'd rather watch them out on the porch, I always have to take it slow, realize that time will pass and the distance will shorten, and pull over if I must. But I would never quit or give up trying to make my way through the storm. My destination was always on the other side of the storm, whether in the safety of my home or the safety of clear skies. Regardless of my position in the midst of the storm, I always kept one thing in mind: I must keep driving, for my limited vision prevented me from knowing if the storm was 20 square miles large or 20 square yards small. I knew I would break on through to the other side eventually.

I believe God's purpose in storms is to refine the hearts of those who must endure them. When Job lost everything he held precious in his life, he began to understand the destruction that some storms could take away. Yet God never left him to face it alone. Job thought and meditated. He questioned and wondered. He sought counsel from his friends. Throughout the storm, rather than passively absorbing the wrath of the storm while idly wallowing in justifiable self-pity, he pressed on waging war with the storm. He would not go down quietly.

And he learned what God desired to teach him: that the Lord gives and he takes away, but all that is left to do is praise him for being faithful in the midst of the most violent of storms. Throughout the storm, God absolutely never left Job and Job undoubtedly never stopped believing in God. They conversed and debated, but when Job relented to the submission of God's Lordship, it was accomplished. The storm produced within Job a greater dependence on God and faithfulness toward God that would enable him to conquer the storm and be entrusted with more of God's richness.

These same lessons are continually being learned throughout the generations from Noah and Moses, to Job and the Prophets, to the disciples and apostles, all the way down the the "ordinary Joe" who trusts in God today. I have learned this lesson multiple times in the past 8 or so years, but it seems that the storms look a little different each time.

This time, for me, it was my job. It was a very trying situation for me, as I was continually frustrated with my job. The storm began early and lasted for many months, increasing in intensity as time passed. As the temptation to relinquish my desire to communicate with God would also intensify, I found myself muttering small phrases like, "Be here with me, Lord." or "Here I am. Save me!" And hearing replies like, "I am here." and "My grace is sufficient." or "I will never leave you alone." And the most glorious feeling is when, after much time struggling and pressing forward through a storm, you finally gaze upon the clear skies painted with a brilliant rainbow in the distance. God's faithfulness reigns! He gives and he takes away, but all that is left is to praise him for his goodness, even in the midst of the violent storm.

And as it was for Job, when He learned the valuable lesson and surrendered everything to God, the Lord restored his fortunes: Job 42:10 "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. 12 And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days."

The clouds have broken into clear skies, for the time being. Yet, I expect only what fortunes God has in store -- he may grant that I have abundance or teach me greater lessons through more storms. Regardless, I will trust in him and rejoice for he is always good!

Thank you, Lord, for you patience with me and for never leaving me alone.