A Storm is Brewing…

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

I sat here in my chair by the window watching the dark clouds of a storm form over the trees; it reminded me of the many storms that have blown through our lives these past several years. What I realized in the midst of this was how distracting the brewing storm was from what I was doing… studying the Word of God.

 

Storms can be many things in our lives, illnesses, criticisms, deaths, rejection, failures, deceptions, losses, fears, anxiety, hatred, bitterness, or really any kind of opposition to what’s most important. This made me think of Nehemiah working to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and how Sanballat and his cronies tried to undermine the whole process. First, they mocked and criticized the Jews, then they created a conspiracy and used extortion, and finally, they offered a compromise and created a betrayal. In each situation, Nehemiah responded with prayer. Like Jesus in the desert being challenged by Satan, Nehemiah relied on God’s Word and sought after His strength to stand firm in what was most important.

 

 “When Nehemiah saw the fear in the faces of the people, he rose and spoke to them: ‘Do not be afraid of those against us; remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us'” (Nehemiah 4:14, 20).

 

Yes, many storms are brewing on the horizon, but they need not distract us from what is most important, that is to know God. His promise to “fight for us” is as true for us today as it was for Nehemiah in building the walls of Jerusalem. It was real for Israel that day they stood pressed in by the sea before them and the Egyptians at their rear. God’s promise to fight for us was true for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace, Daniel in the lion’s den, Jeremiah in the well, Joshua and Caleb before the nation, Joseph in captivity, and ultimately… on the Cross as Jesus bore the wrath of God’s perfect Justice towards all sin. It was here that He was fighting for you and me. Amid the violent storm brewing around the cross, Christ cried out, “It is Finished!” God’s Justice was satisfied, and our debt was atoned for. Sin and death were conquered and lay impotent under His resurrected feet.

 

Thank God for Victory in Jesus! Thank God He is forever fighting for us. One day all those who trust in His Name will stand together and sing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev 5:11). What a glorious day that will be!

 

Choose Wisely…

 

Praying 4 U

 

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” – Hebrews 2:10-11