Most of us are not out bird watching during a storm. However, if you were to do so you would discover that like most of us, birds hunker down and take cover during storms. Not eagles. There is a sense in eagles where they actually get excited when a storm comes and perhaps they even love the storms. They fly toward the storms. Why? Because an eagle knows how to ride the raging winds of a storm. They spread their 7 foot wingspan and begin to glide on the raging fury while the other birds are hiding in their nest waiting out the storm. You will see eagles soaring higher and higher above the storm.
Life Storms
Isn’t it true that most of us, given the choice, would always choose to have no storms in life. I totally get that. If I could just learn all the lessons that I have learned from the storms without having to actually go through a life storm, that would be awesome. However, as I wrote in yesterday’s Life Palette blog, you were made to soar. Your creator cares more about you soaring and being all He created you to be, than He does about making sure you are comfortable and never having to endure a storm in life.
The writer James understood this about each of us when he wrote: “…when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)
Great Joy?
At first read, you may think that James thinks we should look forward to life’s painful situations. On the contrary, he is telling us that when we are going through circumstances that could make us angry, bitter and even want to blame God, that we are to respond with joy. Not that we have joyful anticipation, but joy in the midst of the trial or storm. Why? Because we know that each storm of life is an opportunity for us to grow to reach our potential. While most people work to hunker down and avoid the pain of a storm in life, James tells us to see the storm with great joy. God is working on helping you to soar.
An Eagle’s Perspective
This requires looking at storms from a different perspective as a person who knows and understands that you are made to soar! How do you do that? You begin by seeing the entirety of our lives from God’s perspective. You may not always understand the reasons behind everything you go through, but to know and trust that whatever you go through, God will use it for your good. To know that He is working to help you soar, to help you live out your potential, to help you live life as the masterpiece He created you to be.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT) Notice that while He doesn’t cause every storm in your life, if you will let Him, He will use it for your good.
Ride The Wind
Regardless of the difficulty of the storm you may be facing, rest assured that God will use it to make you stronger. Ask Him to give you the courage and power to spread your wings and face the storm without fear. Let it make you strong, let it make you better. Spread your wings and soar!
Question:
What do you think is different between being joyful and being happy?