July 30, 1998 Devotional
By Erik Farstad
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" James 5:16b
A young man in his early twenties is living a good life, has a good job
and a beautiful wife. Things are going wonderfully, no problems, the
sun always seems to be shining. He thanks the Lord daily for his many
gifts. In the distance comes a dark rain cloud, he doesn't know it yet
but it's about to start raining on his seemly peaceful life. Why? For
in the clouds of life, comes the opportunity to practice faith.
When the Jewish people were fleeing Egypt in the Old Testament, God was
always there. He was fire by night and a cloud by day, God was always
protecting His people. It is no different today than it was those many
years ago. So when the clouds start rolling into your life, rejoice
because God is right there protecting you. He is about to change the
weather of your life for the better. Possible, you bet.
Think about it. If it's sunny all the time, no plants can grow.
Without rain, the occasional storm, all that is green and beautiful
would be no more. You and I are God's plants. He gives us sun and rain
to allow us to grow. Too much of one without the other, we die! But
when we see beautiful sunshine for so long we get nervous when the
clouds come. It is at that moment that God wants our growing to occur.
How? Through faith and prayer!
That story, about the twenty-year-old that's me. And right now the
clouds are overhead and it looks like it's about to pour. I may sound
crazy, but I'm excited. Excited because I know my God up above is
watering my heart and soul. This is my opportunity to draw ever closer
to my Lord, to have faith in His provisions for my life and family.
Perhaps I needed to be reminded to be more in prayer, devotions or
meditation on Him. I don't know and would never try to ponder why
things happen. I do know this though, I will walk away having learned
more about myself and my Heavenly Father up above! That excites me.
And if you're going through a difficult time right now, if the clouds of
life are seemly stuck overhead, rejoice. For God is in those clouds,
showering you with his love. There's a problem though. Sometimes we
put up our umbrella during the rain.
Yes, when in the clouds of life we put up our umbrella to try an escape
the drowning rain. Don't! Allow this cleansing downpour to wash you,
cleanse you and change you. I don't know how long it will last, but it
won't go on forever. Through prayer, time in the Word and simply
listening to God's voice, you will see the sun again. I emphasize
prayer more than anything. God's word, the living Bible, promises in
James 5:16b that, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and
effective." Wow, what a promise. I say instead of putting up your
umbrella in the rain, lift up your prayers instead.
Through the sun and through the rain, God is there by your side. He
will comfort you, challenge you and desire you to grow. Be thankful
that a loving God above desires so much for you. If you desire to be
like Christ, stand strong during the storm and praise God for the
sunshine.
Remember: Your umbrella during the storm is prayer!
In Him, "E"