Learning to Love Storms...

So I'm sitting on the train waiting for my train to hit Fulton so I can transfer for the last leg of my commute to work. I randomly decided I want some Mary Mary in my ear and as I'm bopping my head to the music and getting my lip sync on this song comes on.

I got really into it and found my fingers itching to write down all the thoughts that were forming in my brain. I know I wrote a entry yesterday and two the night before so I was gonna take a little bloggy break but I couldn't help this one. Sometimes you just have to answer the call.

Storms can be hard to handle in any variation: Snow, Rain, Sand, etc. The hardest in my opinion are those personal life storms. Like the aforementioned storms they can blow and batter you and if unprotected may even have the power to take your life. But unlike those storms personal life storms can last weeks to months, even years. Could you imagine living in a rainstorm for years?! Thundering clapping all around. Lightening striking every few minutes. Rain pouring down constantly, leaving you soaked and your clothes sticky and itchy. I couldn't imagine that but some people live it EVERY day.

But like the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink: We NEED storms to live. Personal storms are either God sent or God used. Let me explain: God is going to send a storm into your life or he is going to use a storm to enlighten you and help you to grow. Storms help us to strengthen our character and fine tune our faith. God wouldn't give us anymore than we can bare. I know sometimes we just wish he didn't trust us as much as he does but we need to have faith in him. Like the chorus goes: "We all need a little bit need a little bit, need a little bit of dirt to grow. We need a little bit need a little bit, need a little rain to wash our soul". Its exactly what we need; and that's exactly why I've learned to love storms. When you fight hard, pray, and have faith in the Lord you will always come out the Victor and not the Victim.

The best part about Storms is when its over and you feel the warmth of the sunshine on your face. You appreciate it more having experienced your storm. You should never leave a storm bitter. I learned in bible study that the storms we go through are just something that happens to us. Bitterness is something we do to ourselves. Its an internal assassin that kills from the inside out. It blinds you and I to good events and make disappointments huge... Basically whatever the storm you go through if your bitter about it: You didn't learn your whole lesson from it and will probably end up in another or different kind of storm until you do.

I still don't think I'd wish a storm my way but I definitely would understand and appreciate the need for them better than I have before. I am really learning to love storms. And isn't that one of the things love is about anyways? Being able to love despite the hardship you go through because in the end (whatever end that may be) you always come out stronger. I may be wrong but I'm still learning to love storms and you should too....