God’s Umbrellas
"All
praise to the God and Father of Our Master, Jesus
the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all
healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go
through hard times, and before you know it, He
brings us alongside someone else who is going
through hard times so that we can be there for
that person just as God was there for us."
II
Corinthians 1:3-4 The Message
"Friends love through
all kinds of weather."
Proverbs 17:17 The Message
"Sometimes life brings
sunshine; sometimes it brings pain. God sends us
umbrellas to shield us from the pain."
Melinda Lancaster
The storms of life...they come
and they go. Some of us experience an occasional
"thunderstorm" while others of us feel a
steady "downpour." There is no doubt
that the life of a believer is filled with good
times and not so good times.
Jesus said that in this world we
would experience tribulation. Paul the Apostle
spoke of fights from within and without. Yet there
is victory for us in every situation. We can
experience triumph whether our life is up or down
because we have the promise that God will be with
us during the worst of times, and the assurance
that He will bring others along side us at just
the right moments who have already had their share
of storms. They have already felt the pains,
experienced the losses, known the rejection,
fought the fears, and they not only have survived
their experience, but they are useful to The
Master.
Have you ever asked God to use
you? Did it ever seem like you were plagued by
"the storms" and experienced less
sunshine then ever before? If so, then see that
God's Hand is at work preparing you. How? THE
RAIN. We Christians would benefit from the secret
that even the little flowers of the fields know.
If it never rained...then they would never grow.
Sometimes it is showers...other times torrential
downpours. Regardless, the end result if we do not
drown in our sorrows is GROWTH. We get a little
bigger in Jesus. We become a little stronger. The
fragrance of Christ that is emitted from our lives
grows a bit sweeter. We become "useful"
to The Master.
If you have been through the
storms of life...do not waste your sorrows. Use
what you have experienced to help someone else. Be
the one who instead of becoming bitter becomes
better.
Perhaps you are in the midst of
a storm today. The clouds have burst open, and it
looks as though your life is falling apart at the
seams. You are tired of the dark sky and want the
sun to shine again. Be assured...this too will
pass. In the meantime, instead of counting
raindrops...look for the "umbrellas."
Search your situation and see
the "blessings" that God has, is, and
will send your way. He Himself will never leave
you¾ that is a promise
that is secure. However, He has sent an
"umbrella" or two your way to shield you
from the rain and bring you comfort in your time
of pain. Why? Because He does not want you to
drown.
He is building you to be strong
and sound. When He has done so, you will look in
the mirror and be surprised to see that you have
taken on the appearance of "love" which
will shield and comfort hurting people above all
else.
Dry your eyes weary one...see
those in your life who walk in the rain with
you...yes, they are His umbrellas. Receive their
comfort and find some relief from your pain...the
Son will soon shine again.
Prayer:
Father, I come to You right now
in a spirit of weakness and humility. I humbly bow
before You God. In the Name of Your Son Jesus, the
Name above every other Name I cry out to You and
ask You to bring comfort to Your children. Thank
You for the promise that You have made never to
leave us. You are with us always, and You bring us
through all things because in You we are more than
conquerors. For that, we praise You.
We ask too, Father that You
would help us during the dark times of our lives
to have an ear to hear and eyes to see that which
You want us to see. Let us recognize the blessings
that You place in our lives. Let us realize and
allow our hearts to trust the
"umbrellas" that You send our way. They
are Your people whom You have fashioned into
coverings to help us walk on through the rain
until the sun shines again. Give us discernment,
Father.
Help us not to get so caught up
in the storm that we miss the coverings. For
truly, You have given some of Your special
treasures hearts full of love...softened and
saturated by the storms they have endured. Let us
allow them the opportunity to play the role You
have written for them in the scripts of our lives.
Moreover, Father, please help us
not to get bitter. Help us to become
"better" because of the hard times. Help
us not to waste our sorrows but to instead share
the comfort, peace, and love that You have so
freely shown us so many times in our lives. We
love You. We thank You. Thank You for making us
into people worthy to bear Your name...and thank
You for making and sending "umbrellas"
in the rain.
In Jesus Name!
Amen!
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Melinda L. Lancaster. All Rights Reserved.
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