“We are praying, begging God to turn this storm,” says Tommy Clayton, co-pastor of GraceLife Church in Central Florida. “We’re asking Him to weaken its power, change its course, and have mercy on our community. We can’t possibly imagine a scenario that would make this storm a ‘good thing.'” Clayton reminds us that God is good, even when we’re being tossed by the storms of life. Yes, life is sometimes hard. But Jesus uses the storms of life to make us strong and more like Him.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 2 Cor. 4:8-10 (emphases added)
In his piece over at The Cripplegate, Tommy Clayton offers three truths to plant deep into your heart and cling to when you enter a storm:
Hurricane Irma is headed toward my city in Central Florida. Even the most hopeful models show it shooting straight up the Peninsula. The majority of people who attend GraceLife Church could possibly experience the very center of that storm passing over their home. Many have evacuated and are navigating bumper-to-bumper traffic, gas shortages, and hotels with no vacancies.
Add to that all the hype on social media, alarmist weather reporters, and people who don’t live in Florida painting your worst-case-scenario. Others are scolding us either for waiting too long to prepare, or waiting too late to leave. Bad news. Not helpful. Those issues can easily trouble our hearts and paralyze us with fear.