07.22.06

The Storm

Posted in Uncategorized at 4:20 pm by Perry

There is a song by Casting Crowns titled “Praise You in the Storm” that speaks of how we are to praise God even in the hardest of times. I thought I would like to take a few mintues to share with you all the storm I have been through in the past year and how that effects the way in which I praise God:

Over the past year:

(a) my Mother has tried to commit suicide twice by overdosing; both times nearly suceeding,

(b) I was married (which is good but still a change),

(c) seen my father severely injured and hospitalized for the first time ever twice within two months,

(d) housed my younger brother and sister multiple times for weeks while my Mother was institutionalized,

(e) changed jobs,

(f) maintained a full-time schedule in college,

(g) and moved into a new house.

I don’t mean to label myself as a maryter by any means but by any standards that makes for a hectic year and those are only the main points of the list. I often wonder, how am I to praise God in the storms of this life? Who is He to command us to seek after Him at all times when He continually allows us to undergo such hardships? I often want to scream out to the heavens, “how can you allow this to happen? I can’t take anymore, surely You have no idea what it is to endure such hardships”!

Then I remember the cross. For my salvation and His glory the Lord of the Universe, the Messiah and King of Israel gave his life willingly as the sacrificial lamb to pay the punishment due me for the forgiveness of my sins. I must only think of the atoning death of Jesus the Christ to quickly remember that the cares of this world, the pain, loss, and sorrow, are but passing moments. Surely such trials should not turn us away from worshiping God but instead should drive us closer to Him.

My Father often stoically says that he knows that he is supposed to be learning something from all of these trials and that he must only look to God for leadership and strength. I am continually encouraged by his insight and by the psalmist who re-inforces us to “cast your burdens on the Lord [because] He will sustain you”.

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