“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

A Storm Blows In

I was sailing along in life, enjoying the fruits of my labors. Oh, everything wasn’t perfect. “In this life you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33) gave me a reason to allow the minor bumps in the road—but it was beginning to feel like my good choices, my motto of “living without regrets”, was paying off. I was living the American dream.

Then a storm blew in. It shook everything up. It rearranged the furniture of my life. It disoriented me, turned me around, and made me dizzy. I didn’t know which end was up, which way was forward. I couldn’t find the surface of the deep waters so I could catch my breath before being pulled under again.

This was over a decade ago, and there have been many other storms since then. I can look back over these events and see some things I missed while my eyes were blinded by pain and fear.

If God takes a plow to our fallow ground, why are we surprised at the disturbance? He has a crop in mind; He is preparing a harvest, and we are going to participate in the work.

If God remakes His clay vessel, why are we dismayed? We need to be made fit for the Master’s use, a vessel unto honor. We need to submit to His sovereign hand so we will be made into the image of His Son.

If God allows Satan to buffet us with a thorn in the flesh, a daily reminder of our dependence on Him, why do we cry out for relief? Paul prayed just three times for the removal of his thorn in the flesh, and then he accepted God’s answer: “My grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul then knew both continual suffering and continuously renewed grace. God uses for our good those things that our enemy had intended for evil.

His work in us is a gift, not a curse. That storm, that plow, that reshaping, that thorn—all have a purpose. Oh, the suffering is hard. The pain overwhelms us. The isolation makes us downcast. The fear causes trembling. But we need to see the big picture: God has a plan in place. Nothing is wasted in His economy. And He is with us as we walk through it, out to the other side.

Remember, there is always the other side. We won’t be asked to stay here forever. We have a blessed hope.

Oh Lord, help us to walk in the knowledge of Your great love for us. We declare our trust in Your chosen process in our lives. We bow before You, mighty God.