Storm Stories

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Cor. 1:3-5

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16

And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am – Casting Crowns


The thunder rolled and the rain pounded against the glass. I waited a few more minutes until the storm passed and then got in the car and headed home. The clouds from the storm formed a brilliant and gorgeous sunset! You know the kind – with pinks, purples and oranges streaming through the remnants of gray. The new asphalt was a smooth canvas of puddles, filled with the reflection of the beautiful sunset! Looking up or looking down, beauty was everywhere…because of storm.

When I am given a new heart, I am meant to reflect the Light of Christ. That light is often most beautiful after a storm. Problem is, I tend to hide my puddles. They are dirty and dangerous in my view. From my friends’ view, however, they are exactly what reflects His power, His provision, His presence. Changing my perspective to His perspective, I can move from seeing the messiness of my struggles to the mastery of His tapestry – His beauty reflected in my puddles!

He gives us these “storm stories” to reflect Him in ways others can relate, not to hide Him away until a “prettier story” emerges. He is the beauty that emerges through our clouds, making His story all the more glorious through our lives; just as they are, just as God intended.  Are we looking to reflect Him as He is in our lives authentically or to reflect ourselves in a better light, a better life, a better story with more sun and less mess? For Him to rescue, there must a storm to rescue me from. Both sides of the story are to be told for His glory to be known.

Only His Spirit opens my eyes to see Him in my storm. Only His Spirit moves me to trust Him to be more than I know, to truly be more than I can imagine. Only His Spirit calls me to courage to confess.

Share struggles. Praise Him in the storm. See Him in all.

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com