Whether we are pursuing our cherished creatures or following the crucified Christ, may we never lose our way.
I truly understand now why God decided to use a flood to destroy the world back in Noah’s day. Nothing can stand up to continual storms, rising waters and pounding waves. As the heart-wrenching images of my brothers and sisters in south Louisiana keep showing up on my television and newsfeed, I’m reminded of what north Louisiana went through just a few months ago during our time of flood.
My family spent days moving cars, tractors, furniture and animals higher and higher until we finally realized there was no higher ground. It is truly a helpless feeling. So, when I headed south along with several other ministers from local churches to deliver supplies to the Baton Rouge area, I felt a strange combination of heartbreak and peace. I know the feeling of lose, but I also believe our flood made our church better equipped to handle this catastrophe. We knew what people needed, whether it be supplies or words, because we needed it just a few months ago.
I would love to tell you that you’d bounce back in no time but that’s only half true. You will bounce back but it will take time. I don’t believe I can ever say it any better than the Word so let’s see what the Bible has to say in Job 1:1-8:
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
As we study Job’s story, we see that he never loses faith. Do we believe that maybe God has allowed this storm and trial to enter into your life because He trusts your faith, like He did Job’s? If our trust is truly and firmly in Him, then these storms will have the ability to blow away all the cluttering doubt and leave us with a new wisdom useful in counseling others along with an unwavering hope and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Through every storm, every trial Jesus is there every step of the way providing--not an answer or an explanation—but a comfort through His presence, His word and His people. When, not if, we face the trials and storms in this life, pray. Pray for strength. Pray for peace. Pray to be blessed with everything you need to be the man or woman of Christ He needs you to be during this ordeal.
Above all, remember this: The storms of this life must pass through His hands first.
May God bless Louisiana.
Like the Ben Dupree-Author page on Facebook for book ordering information, speaking engagement bookings and future book release dates.
My family spent days moving cars, tractors, furniture and animals higher and higher until we finally realized there was no higher ground. It is truly a helpless feeling. So, when I headed south along with several other ministers from local churches to deliver supplies to the Baton Rouge area, I felt a strange combination of heartbreak and peace. I know the feeling of lose, but I also believe our flood made our church better equipped to handle this catastrophe. We knew what people needed, whether it be supplies or words, because we needed it just a few months ago.
I would love to tell you that you’d bounce back in no time but that’s only half true. You will bounce back but it will take time. I don’t believe I can ever say it any better than the Word so let’s see what the Bible has to say in Job 1:1-8:
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
As we study Job’s story, we see that he never loses faith. Do we believe that maybe God has allowed this storm and trial to enter into your life because He trusts your faith, like He did Job’s? If our trust is truly and firmly in Him, then these storms will have the ability to blow away all the cluttering doubt and leave us with a new wisdom useful in counseling others along with an unwavering hope and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Through every storm, every trial Jesus is there every step of the way providing--not an answer or an explanation—but a comfort through His presence, His word and His people. When, not if, we face the trials and storms in this life, pray. Pray for strength. Pray for peace. Pray to be blessed with everything you need to be the man or woman of Christ He needs you to be during this ordeal.
Above all, remember this: The storms of this life must pass through His hands first.
May God bless Louisiana.
Like the Ben Dupree-Author page on Facebook for book ordering information, speaking engagement bookings and future book release dates.