Encouragement

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IN THE EYE OF THE STORM.
By: Esther Afolabi
In view of all that is going on in recent times with respect to the different natural and man made disasters all over the world, one is tempted to ask where God is. But the believers know that through all the changing scenes of life in trouble and in health, God is always ever faithful, ever true and still trustworthy.
Whenever there is a disaster, whether personal, local, national or international, even unbelievers, that is those who do not belief in the existence of God Almighty (atheist and the like), and those that have not confessed Jesus Christ as their savior first give the _expression “Oh! God” !
So then it is possible that one way or another people must belief in the existence of a supreme being that controls the affairs of men. This Supreme Being, as far as Christians are concerned, is God Almighty the father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the maker of heaven and earth.
The bible says “in the beginning God created heaven and earth, the earth was without form and was void and the spirit of the lord was hovering over the face of the waters”(Gen1:1-10).The bible talked about all the things that God created through his spoken word. As Christians, we believe that we can pray and receive answers by praying the scriptures because it is God’s words that we return to Him. And God is always faithful. He will honor His word (Psalm 138:2).
God made the sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, and the elements,
And so when there is something going on with respect to these creations of God that we do not understand, the best person to talk to is God.
In the eye of the storm, the only person that can calm the storm is the one that created the storm. With all the sophisticated equipments and modern technology, the meteorologist can only tell us how to prepare for an impending natural disaster or catastrophe but they cannot do anything to stop it because as insurance document sometimes puts it, it is an act of God.
What do we do when we are caught in the storm?
Storm is defined as a strong wind along with heavy rain, snow, etc and, often, thunder and lightning. Storms and other natural occurrences ,like hurricanes and tornadoes have been given different names in different places .The most recent being the infamous hurricane Katrina, the aftermath of which is still being felt directly or indirectly all over the United states.
It is something that really saddens one. It reinforces the fact that God Almighty is awesome and that He is in control of storms natural, physical or spiritual. He is the only one that can do and undo. The bible states in Isaiah 45:7 that the Lord forms evil and good.
He says form the light and create darkness, I create (national well-being) and I create (physical ) evil (calamity );I am the Lord , who does all these things .(The Amplified Bible ).Also in Isaiah 46:9-10 the Lord also once again stress the fact He is the all in all and there is none like him and none can be compared to him.
Therefore whether the storm is a personal, local, national or international, physical or spiritual God is always in control .He knows the beginning and therefore he is also the one that can put and end to it, there is not much that man can do in such circumstances to the natural disasters
As with the natural disasters of the Tsunami and hurricane Katrina that has affected the world in recent time, the meteorologist could only predict and suggest to people what they can do in event of the something to save them and their family members most people could do nothing about their landed properties. They have to wait on insurance companies to help them start over. some have to leave their beloved state and be relocated to other states, which they probably have no plan of doing. However all these also shows the fact that God is the Almighty .And he is in control of everyone’s destiny.
In the book of Luke, Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side of the sea with him, however when they got to the other side there was a big storm. But Jesus was asleep. The disciples went to wake him up, he spoke to the storm and the storm immediately ceased. The storm obeyed the voice of God .The disciples were amazed and wondered what type of a person Jesus was that even (the elements) the storm obeyed Him.
Therefore we know that God Almighty the Author and Finisher of our faith is the creator of heaven and earth and he knows about everything. Whether we are experiencing storm in our own little world, over our marriages, finances, career, academics, children, grandchildren, health, storm by whatever name called, God is always in control .And He says call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver you and you shall glorify me .Psalm 50:15.
Sometimes storms whether personal or not is a wake up call for the individual or for the nation to turn to God and to follow the path of righteousness and go closer to God. Jeremiah 6:16 Jonah 2
In the book of Jonah chapter 2, Jonah did not cry to God until he got into the belly of the fish. In fact when the Lord called him to send him to Nineveh to preach repentance unto the people he ran the opposite direction to resist God and do his own thing .However God is always in charge, he called for a storm and Jonah put other people’s life in danger because of his disobedience .They threw him out to weather the storm on his own and then sent a fish to his rescue. In the University of Whale or a big fish, Jonah decided to cry to the lord he ran away from. The word of Jonah chapter 2 is a good scriptural prayer to pray when praying the word of God and to ask God for his mercy when we are passing through the storm. God is forever merciful and He will be merciful though the answer may be delayed but He will surely come through for us if we faithfully wait for him.
As people we need to seek God urgently and come to him in repentance and ask for his mercy. He is merciful and steadfast and unfailing .Lamentations 3
For us Christian it seems that the bible prophecies are fast coming to pass. Matthew 24 talks about the happenings of the end time and it mentions wars and rumors of war, earthquake, natural disasters, and all the rest.
Earlier this year we experienced the Tsunami that swept across 3continents and was particularly devastating upon the Asian continent. As a result of this storm, that is said to have happened as a result of some sort of explosion under the sea. Christian missionaries were some of the first set of people to go out to offer assistance to the victims of this natural disaster .In so doing the missionaries were also able to take the gospel to the people of this continent and to some places that seems hitherto have been difficult to reach with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore in all things whatever it may be, the lord still shows us that He is the all in all and His will, will always prevail.
We also notice that as a result of attacks and counter attacks on the world super powers, Christian missionaries have also been able to enter into nations that have been a bit difficult to reach with the good news of the gospel and the gospel is reaching out to a such
Nations, in leaps and bounds.
Although when national disasters and catastrophe of a great magnitude occurs we tend to wonder in confusion and ask so many questions that not many people can give answers to but can only offer commensurations. At most people will offer to pray for us and pray with us. But only God knows and has all the answers .So in the eye of the storm let us go to the Lord , the one whom the winds and winds and sea obey , the one by whom all birds are fed and the one who gives us our daily bread . Let us take His words in Psalm 91 back to Him and leave all our trouble in his hands for He will indeed give His angels charge over us.
If you are reading this and you are yet to give your life to Christ to Christ, please say this prayer, Lord Jesus, thank for the free gift of salvation, please come into my life and be my Lord and savior in Jesus name Amen. If you are already a believer please let us continue to pray for grace to run the Christian race successfully. If you have just given your life to Christ please join a bible believing church in your area

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