Bro. Eddie Ministries Reading Plan: The Word Gives HopeSample

Silver lining

They say that after every storm is a cloud with silver lining. It may not be exactly true. Because if you are on board a plane, you will see the silver lining of the sun’s reflection above a looming storm. There the thick and dark clouds roll fast.

How can we know this if we are way below the dark clouds of a coming storm? Instead we panic when we see a lightning strike and hear a thunder roar. And yet we are just like that when we come face to face with “storms” in our lives.

But God is committed to us. He will not abandon us during such times. What He wants is that we learn how to look at life’s struggles in a better perspective. It means we must see that He who is above every storm of life is with us.
The Lord’s disciples came to know this truth one eventful night. They were to go to the other side of Galilee with Jesus and they must cross the lake. While on boat, there arose a great windstorm. The waves beat into the ship so that it was now full of water. (Mark 4:37)

The disciples panicked and did all they could to stop the boat from sinking. But it was too late and beyond their control anymore.

Meanwhile Jesus was in the rear end of the boat and was fast asleep. Peter, James, John and other seasoned fishermen with them were doing their best to save their lives and that of others from drowning. Till they realized that the Lord was only sleeping.

They awoke Him up and nagged on Him. “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” They grilled Him on how
He could sleep so comfortably in the midst of a storm while they were all panicking.

So Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39). And they were all set in awe of Him.

Just like the disciples, we may think God leaves us in times of sorrows. But that is not true. What happens though is that those times reveal what’s inside our heart.

God uses those moments to purge and cleanse our heart. He wants us to see how we respond to life’s tests. From there, He would offer help as we ask Him to.

God is there to sharpen our faith in Him. He does not want us to perish. After all, He is over and above the “storms and dark clouds.”

A prophet wrote, “The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm. And the clouds are the dust of His feet.” (Nahum 1:3)

Dark clouds suggest God’s presence. Oswald Chambers put it this way. “God cannot come near us without clouds. He does not come in clear shining brightness. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child. That is a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows.”

God wants to reveal Himself to us through dark times of our life and not just to help us through these. So the moment dark times approach us, we should all the more welcome those silver linings that come with them.
Then we can say with Nahum the prophet, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

Reflection:
1. Are you facing trials? Are you troubled? Think of ways on how you can focus on God who is the Source of your strength.
2. What makes you faint in times of trouble?

The dark times of life gives us the chance to peek through the glory of God.