Stormy Weather

The rain began as we were beginning the six hour trek back from seeing grown kids and growing grandkids over Mothers Day weekend in Texas.  It wasn't a gentle shower but rather "gully washer" like the kind an old Texan warned me about when I preached in the Lone Star state back in the 80s: "We get about 14 inches of rain a year here, but look out on the day it comes!"  Yep, it was that day.

It wasn't just raining "cats and dogs," it seemed more like it was coming down in "lions and bears."  Visibility was severely diminished, water overwhelmed the highway's drainage capacity causing pooling just rife for hydroplaning.  It was, to say the least, challenging driving conditions.

This differed greatly from the challenged of the blow-out we had on the way down, where a tire just suddenly gave way and we were stuck on the side of the road, requiring that we call for help to carry us to the closest service.  Funny now, but this after hours tow truck ride got even more interesting as the truck our car was being carried on, broke down in sight of the tire shop just minutes before closing time.  The only real challenge to us was patience and the assault on our bank account.

This challenge required that we face it every mile of I-30 until  we crossed the Texas/Arkansas line in Texarkana.  Texas was ushering us out and Arkansas was welcoming us home.  The ride to that point was indeed challenging to say the least.  It is not the kind of weather one would choose for traveling, but we were not given a choice - our weekend was over, work was calling.

Just because you are facing stormy weather on the highway from Texas or the path of life, it is not a sign you shouldn't proceed.  It doesn't mean you must pull over or turn around.  It does mean that to continue will require an adapting to circumstances and a willingness to persevere in adversity.  It also requires the willingness and ability to trust - trust in the soundness of the roads, the road-worthiness of your car, your own ability to navigate such conditions and ultimately, trusting in God to protect.

James tells us to "consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials" (1:2) because the "testing of your faith produces perseverance...that you may be mature and complete" (vv. 3-4).  A challenge accepted develops your trust factor and increases your faith, which is so paramount in life and absolutely essential for life to come "for without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb 11:6).

No one likes traveling in stormy weather but there will be those days ahead.  We may have the choice to hunker down and stay put sometimes, but in others we will have to face it head on.  Will we panic and be derailed or will we persevere and be delivered?  The difference comes down to that trust factor.  Which will you trust in the most: the storm's power to ground or God's power to soar?  Jus' Ask'n.