Are you prepared for whatever changes life brings?
Fall weather in Georgia is anything, but predictable. I was huddling under a blanket at a football game on Friday night and then I was sweating buckets on Sunday afternoon on a walk I took, wishing I had a bottle of water. This volatility of the weather is nothing new to me. It could be anywhere from the forties to the eighties on any given day in the fall. It’s always best to be prepared with water and a jacket and maybe even a blanket and an umbrella.
But, as I was pondering the weather during my walk, it made me think about life. It’s really a lot like the weather, very unpredictable. The skies can turn from sunny to stormy in the blink of an eye in our financial lives, our relationships and our health. When we are prepared, we can weather the storms. Have we saved money? Have we talked with our spouses about the importance of staying committed to our marriages? Do we have a good support system from family and friends? Have we been vigilant about our health, through watching what we eat, exercising and getting check ups. Do we have a good doctor before we get sick? If we are prepared, we can usually get through the storms much more easily.
What about being prepared for storms in our spiritual lives? How do we react spiritually when life deals us a blow? Do we know how to turn to God in prayer when we are shaken? Is He like a daddy to us or a distant uncle? Do we know how to listen for His voice and look for His comfort? If we have been working on walking with God when times are good, then when times are bad, we can lean in close. It’s harder to really lean on someone who we have kept at a distance.
The Bible is also a fabulous source of comfort and hope when times are tough. If we have been reading it and studying it along the way, we know where to look when we really need some encouragement. God desires to help us; but He will only extend a hand. He will not force us to trust or love Him. Christianity doesn’t work that way.
What if today was our last day on earth? Does the thought frighten us or fill us with dread or are we okay with that, knowing the end here is simply the beginning of eternity?
We are not meant to live in fear. We are meant to live in love and joy. We are meant to have courage and peace in all circumstances, knowing that whatever happens, if our heart belongs to Jesus, we are covered. God has a plan for each and every one of us and knowing that, we are to start each day with a peace that can only come from an intimate relationship with Him. He will be our blanket, umbrella, raincoat, jacket, bottle of water and anything else we need in rough weather. All we have to do is follow His ways and we will always be prepared for anything and everything.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂