Storm Upon Us
Posted on July 24, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call
I love this time of year in the south. This is our second summer here and it was the same last year. For the past few weeks we have thunderstorms almost every single day, usually late in the afternoon or evening. They move through fairly quickly, not lasting very long.
I live on a beautiful property with hundreds of very tall trees of various kinds surrounding my house. Some with large trunks that might I be able to get my arms halfway around while others are probably 4 hands around.
A few days ago, I was reading in my screen room when the wind picked up and the trees started to whip around and I knew the storm would be soon upon us. I scurried around to put things on the deck away. Once everything was secured I stood in my screen room just watching, staring, mesmerized. Some of the trees – the ones with smaller diameter trunks moved back and forth in every direction as the wind gusts hit them. The woods looked like they were dancing.
As I stood there I was thinking about our spiritual lives. The younger trees were more affected by the wind than the older trees whose movement was practically imperceptible. The mature trees stood firm, steadfast while everything around them seemed to be in turmoil.
As we mature in our faith and grow in our walk with Jesus our roots drive deeper and we become more and more steadfast. Notice I did not say as we grow older… because it is not a forgone conclusion that as we age we will mature in our faith; nor that you have to be old to be mature in your faith. I know some YOUNG strong, mature Christians.
… stand firm in the faith…[i]; For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.[ii]; Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.[iii]; Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.[iv]; …stand firm thus in the Lord…[v]; …this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.[vi]
When the storms of life are soon upon us…
We stand firm in our faith.
We stand firm in our freedom.
We stand firm against evil.
We stand firm in unity with one spirit and one mind.
We stand firm in the Lord.
We stand firm in the grace of God.
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9
Blessings,
Diane
[i] 1 Corinthians 16:13
[ii] Gal 5:1
[iii] Ephesians 6:3
[iv] Philippians 1:27-28
[v] Phil 4:1
[vi] 1 Peter 5:12
Diane Hunt serves part-time on the staff of America’s Keswick providing ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.