Spring like weather on Monday hitting 80 degrees in some places. Then, Monday night leading into Tuesday, was a bit cooler. There was thunder and lightening and then, hail. Today, it is freezing! Frozen rain and black ice everywhere. Tomorrow, snow.
That is a heck of a forecast. But of course, nothing out of the ordinary for Texas, because one thing I’ve learned about weather in the lone-star state is it is consistently, inconsistent.
The weather here in Texas changes on a dime. You can wake up to sunny and hot and end the day with a 40 degree drop. It’s crazy! It’s wild! It’s in no way predictable. And ya know what? I love it.
The weather here forces you to be ready for any drastic and unexpected change that might take place. It forces you to be flexible. It is impossible to remain stagnant.
As followers of Jesus, I think it is easy to become comfortable in our walks. We settle into a routine that leaves little room for subtle interruptions let alone calamitous life-changing altercations. We nestle in, and cling to the walls of ease forgoing any warning signs of storms a’coming. And when they arrive, we just aren’t prepared. We lose our way.
The ravishing storms rage into our lives and we are at a loss with what to do. We are tossed around relentlessly and unexpectedly leaving us turned upside down in heaps of rubble.
I’ve heard it said that crisis doesn’t create character, it reveals it. I believe that statement rings true for the believer. Crisis reveals our walk. Crisis reveals our faith. Crisis reveals our character in Christ. But for many, that is a frightening thought because we just aren’t prepared, and what is revealed is disturbingly similar to a lost world.
I know there is no way to adequately plan or prepare for the unique crises that come out of nowhere, but we can be ready. As believers, followers of Jesus, we can stand armed and ready for those sudden and drastic changes in life. And we do this by clinging desperately to Jesus and never forsaking a moment to draw nearer to Him.
There is no room, or time for comfortable Christianity. It will leave us fallen. We have to remain in steadfast pursuit Jesus. We have to be suiting up in the armor He provides to protect us for what lies ahead. No matter how stagnant life may be in the moment, it is but that, a moment, and just like that we’re hit.
The weather is changing. Storms are coming. Life will look different. The question to ponder is what will be revealed and what will be left standing when the tide turns and comes our way? Will we still find ourselves bowing in a posture of worship and thanksgiving or will we find ourselves bitterly waving our fists? We are but a storm away, a shift in the weather to finding out our true character in Christ.