Pain, Peace, The Winds of Change, Words of Endurance
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
The words of Jesus – Matthew 7:24
The sweeping currents of change can leave us feeling like a seasick passenger aboard a storm-tossed ship. As we, like desperate passengers, cling to the deck railing, braced for the next wave, we desperately long for solid ground. But where do we find it? Is there anything in life that is storm proof?
If the storms of life have left you white-knuckled and nauseous, hang onto the promises God has given. No storm of life can ever touch these precious treasures. They provide solid ground no matter how difficult our circumstances may be or how bruised and weary we are from the storm.
Jesus Christ is no security against storms, But He is a perfect security in storms. He has never promised you an easy passage, Only a safe landing.
ANONYMOUS
Valuables that are subject to storm damage:
Personal Accomplishment
Yet when I surveyed all that my had had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 2:11
Beauty
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting.” – Proverbs 31:30
Riches
“Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” – Proverbs 23:5
Friends
“My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.” – Psalm 38:11
The Wisdom of the World
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written…”The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” – 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Earthly Glory
“All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.” – 1 Peter 1:24
The Future
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:15
Treasures that are storm-proof:
God’s Purpose for Us
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
God’s Acceptance
“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” – John 6:37
God’s Treasure
Your Father has been pleased to give you…a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. – Luke 12:23-33 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. – 1 Peter 1:24-25
God’s Love
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
God’s Wisdom and Guidance
Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. – Psalm 73:23-24
Heavenly Rewards
“And if anyone gives you even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” – Matthew 10:42
Heaven
“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” – 2 Corinthians 4:1
But now, this is what the Lord says –
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:1-3