After the storm

Here in Southern California, we have pretty amazing weather. We get a miserable hot month or so in late summer, but from our house it is about 10 miles to relief at the ocean shore. We get some chilly days and nights, but chilly is relative: I start shivering in the high 50s, and my brother in Oregon laughs. We also get some rain, but it usually passes quickly through--a day or two and then sunshine returns. Pretty blessed.

We are in the midst of a storm track right now so we have been getting a rainy day or two, a couple days of clearing, and then another storm (again, pretty relative term) arrives. The other morning I read this verse in my Bible:

"When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation." Proverbs 10:25

I walked outside with the dogs, coffee in hand. The rain which had fallen overnight had ended, and the air was fresh and clean. The sky was blue (well, becoming so--it was pretty early). I meditated on that verse for a few minutes while the dogs ran around.

Jesus said the rain will beat against the houses of both rock and sand.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

A storm clears polluted air, sweeps away dirt and dust accumulated on our streets and stuff, and often takes with it loose tree limbs or even roof tiles. It has a way of sweeping away stuff that isn't secure. What's left standing and refreshed are those things which are enduring...a well-planted garden, an iceplant-rooted backyard bank, a solid oak tree.

Spiritual storms often involve spiritual enemies. We hunker down and seek God through prayer and the Word...keep our minds focused on Him through worship music, Scripture memorization..maybe fast. When the storm is over, we are standing, b/c we are built on bedrock. We are refreshed. But our enemies will be swept away.

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]." Isaiah 59:19b, AMP

"Hear the thunder of the mighty forces as they rush forward like thundering waves. But though they thunder like breakers on a beach, God will silence them, and they will run away. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind,like a tumbleweed whirling before a storm." Isaiah 17:12b-13 NLT

Build on the Rock. Put your roots down deep and abide in Him. When the storms come, hang on tight. Rest assured that when the storm passes through, you'll be an everlasting foundation.