NAVIGATING LIFE'S STORMS: Part 3

In this final installment dealing with life's storms, let's look at some misconceptions as to why we go through these times of turbulence and uncertainty. Some of them are the result of man's attempt to spiritualize events that seem to have no understandable explanation. Others stem from man's insatiable need to attach blame, rather than to accept personal responsibility for his/her own wrong actions or choices.

Perhaps the most commonly used explanation for the storms we all encounter is the presence of sin in the individual's life. One of best examples of this type of reasoning is found in the Old Testament account of Job. The story is found in the book that bears his name. It's a true "riches-to-rags (and back to riches)" episode.

Job is described as both righteous and wealthy, a enviable position by any standard. His status, however, was questioned by Satan, who argued with God that hardship and blessing deprivation would lead even Job to sin. (Notice that while God did not order these calamities upon Job's life, He did give Satan permission to "test" him.)

In the midst of his affliction, even Job's closest friends urged him to confess that he had sinned against God. And his wife encouraged him to curse God and die, to put him out of his misery. But Job remained steadfast, declaring that even if it meant his death, he would still praise God.
Job's misfortune returned to fortune when he ended his confrontation with God and prayed for his accusers.

While sin is at the root of most, if not all, of our personal failures, unexplained storms are a fact of life for all of us. We live in a broken, imperfect world, full of broken, equally imperfect people. And while God allows these unexplained happenings--the sudden death of a loved one, the breakup of a relationship, and the loss of earthly possessions, etc.--He also extends mercy and grace to all who will receive it. His grace truly is sufficient!!

Another common misconception as to why adversity sometimes seems to be a constant companion is the belief that problems come our way to develop our character. In simple terms, character is what God knows we are, while reputation is what others think we are. And while life's hardships may test our character, they merely reveal our depth of character, bringing to light what God already knows about us.

It has been said that character is what we are when no one's looking. In a recent survey of college students, 65 percent admitted to cheating on exams. And while such exams do not build character, hopefully they help develop the prayer life of at least some of the students. In another revelation of personal character, or lack of such, adult mall shoppers were asked, "Would you do something illegal, if you knew that absolutely no one would ever find out?"
Almost half of those questioned answered "yes".

If it is true that adversity builds character, some of us would have multiple degrees in the subject. The true test of a man's character lies not in his/her circumstances, but in how he/she responds to them. So when the storms of life are raging, don't look down at the tossing billows. Look up for the rainbow. It's there somewhere!!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Two men looked out from prison bars. One saw mud. The other saw stars.