STORMS HAVE PURPOSE!

STORMS HAVE PURPOSE!

 He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love. —Job 37:13

 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” —Acts 14:17

            God works through storms to accomplish His desires.  He uses storms, we are told in the verse from Job above, to: 1-punish people 3-to water his earth 2-to show His love.  Storms come and more than likely God is accomplishing or could accomplish all three of these reasons at the same time.

            A number of years ago a hurricane came through the Gulf of Mexico.  The rain from it caused a massive mudslide in Guatemala.  My daughter, Hannah, and I were there with a group from another church for a mission to children.  We were expecting and planned for about 100 children, but instead there were only about 20.  Why?  It was because of that mudslide.  They estimated that a 40 foot wall of mud came off the top of the mountain and left a 100 yard wide path of destruction.  The slide happened about 1am when most people were sleeping.  Houses were half filled with mud.  The basketball hoop at the school was only waste high.  Many people died and many others displaced.  The area pastors gathered and discussed why this may have happened.  They concluded and believed it was because of the drug dealing, gun smuggling and witchcraft that were taking place in that very area.   They believed God brought this judgment, this punishment, by this storm creating the mudslide.

            God also brings storms to “water His earth” and “show his love.”  This is what Barnabas and Paul were telling the people in Lystra.  God bears testimony of Himself because “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 

            So God has purpose that He is carrying out through storms.  May we pray as storms come that people will respond appropriately toward Him.  Yes, Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuVNGUXZQ1g