In Jamaica the months of September and October tend to be on the rainy side, actually the very rainy side. The weather forecast in recent times has been characterized by torrential rain and thunderstorms. The heavy rains are often times accompanied by very strong winds and floods which frequently result in land slippages.
During the rainy season the rain can fall for days upon days non-stop and more often than not, you will only get a mere a glimpse of the sun on any given day. The rainy season replete with thunderstorms reminds me of life itself. We all want sunny days, that is, a trouble free, smooth sailing life, but invariably we encounter several dark clouds that give rise to thunderstorms.
Bending but not breaking
During a recent thunderstorm in the wee hours of the night, I was awakened by the howling wind outside my windows and the terror inducing roll of thunder. Flashes of lightening brightened the dark sky and drops of rains came barrelling to the ground. I peeked outside my window to get a snapshot of nature’s fury and I beheld one tree in particular bending and buckling under the sheer force and pressure of the ubiquitous wind.
The tree just hours prior stood majestic and proud but was now practically on the brink of breaking, its limbs bowing very close to the ground. As I stared at the image of the poor tree, my eyes soon caught the attention of another tree nearby. The neighbouring tree was not impervious to the impact of the thunderstorm and all the attendant elements of nature. It swayed to and fro as if engaging in a well-choreographed dance with the wind. I however noticed that unlike its friend nearby it was not bending. In fact, apart from the occasional sway, it managed to maintain its dignity; defiantly refusing to bow to the pressures of the force of the wind.
I pondered to myself, what is keeping this tree erect? My eyes then caught a mechanism towards the centre of the trunk of the tree fastening it to a nearby wall. It appears that the gardener had recently assessed the tree and thought that it could do with some support. I suppose he felt that any wind with sufficient force would have caused it to topple over and so he with some crafty engineering twisted some wires together and fastened the tree to a nearby wall creating an anchor for it.
We need support
No wonder the tree was able to stand. As I stood looking out at the thunderstorm and the tree, I couldn’t help relating my own life and that of my friends to it. Oh how often we get battered by the many elements of life: stress; disappointments; failures; heartaches; setbacks; betrayals; unfulfilled dreams...and the list goes on and on and on. The lies of the enemy sometimes roll vociferously in our ears like the powerful thunder and memories of our past failures, hurts etc come flashing through our minds like the lightening splitting the dark of the sky.
As we encounter the many thunderstorms of life, each one threatening to break us or uproot us as they do the trees, it is our faith in Christ that will keep us anchored and protect us from the furious elements of life.
The word of the Lord in Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 6 instructs us that: “… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him”(NIV).
Further, Romans Chapter 10 verse 11 also advises us that “….. faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (NKJV).
Faith in God keeps us anchored
In order for us to weather the many thunderstorms of life we need to have faith. Faith in the Lord God Almighty/faith in Jesus Christ, who is able to anchor us through any raging storm. But faith is not generally built just by chance, faith comes through being and remaining in the word of God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, reading the word of God and living the word of God. So powerful is the word of God that Psalm Chapter 119 verse 105 instructs us that “thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV). The word God will help to shed light over the dark storm clouds that may form in our lives and illuminate our path out of the thunderstorms.
Jesus Christ specializes in saving us from thunderstorms. Just as He was able to calm the storms for His disciples in Matthew Chapter 8 verses 23-27, so too will He calm the storms in our lives. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can overcome the thunderstorms of life.
Just as the wires were able to secure the tree from toppling under the pressures of the wind so too Jesus Christ, who is our anchor, will keep us secure from all the elements of the thunderstorms of life. Our faith in Jesus Christ is key in protecting us from all thunderstorms and it is only through Him that we will have peace.
The word of God in John Chapter 16 verse 33 highlights that “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV).
So, though we will not always have sunny skies, we need not dread the thunderstorms because through Jesus Christ we will overcome.