Storms That Give Us Strength

Struggles and devastation: we've felt them, we've seen them, and we've experienced them. They hurt, they linger, they hold us down, and they discourage us.

Struggles are a part of our lives. The life we all live. So at some point in each of our lives, there will be struggles. But we must remember, God is always there, so we have to let go and let God!! AMEN

These struggles will come in different forms, strengths, and lengths. They’re the struggles of life. The unwanted and unexpected struggles that will bring devastation that will either keep us down or make us stronger.

Through these struggles, we must remember that God has provided a solution through them. He’s our strength. He’ll be our guide. A belief in God is what we’ll need in order to bring understanding in times of difficulties and struggles.

Brothers and sisters, as we go about our daily lives, we must understand that there will be struggles. We must understand that there will be storms. Devastation around us and devastation that touches us may happen. Through it all we will need God to keep us strong. AMEN

Psalm 46:1 says: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

My message today is Storms that give us strength.

This year brothers and sisters, has brought us storms of such magnitude we should be asking ourselves:

• Are we ready?

• Are we doing the things that God wants us to do?

• Are we listening to the sirens?

• Are we wavering towards the era of Sodom and Gomorrah?

• Are we being punished as the children of Israel were?

• Are we being made stronger with an understanding unlike any other? AMEN

In January 2017 an outbreak of tornados would start the year off. An outbreak would hit on the second day of the New Year and one of the largest winter tornado events on record would strike in late January. MY LORD!

Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma to name a few. God’s children lost in the storm. Living conditions as they were changed in an instance. AMEN

Psalm 91:2-6 states: I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Among the tornadoes would come the Hurricanes. Hurricanes with a force so strong it would devastate our home as we know it. MY MY!

There would be Harvey, Irma, Katia, Jose, Maria, and Nate, to name a few. These storms reached category strengths that would devastate, displace and destroy.

It was reported that Hurricane Maria, a historically intense hurricane, maintained winds of 185 miles per hour, longer than any storm ever recorded on Earth. MY GOD!

Before the end of the 2017 year, we would be plagued with more storms. These storms would place us in the top 15 storm surges in a single year since 1851, when reliable records begin. MY MY MY!

Houston, Louisiana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas ,the Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Bahamas, Miami, Fort Lauderdale , and Tampa Bay. People hurting everywhere. LORD LORD!

It was reported that on Sept. 8, three storms threatened land: from left, Tropical Storm Katia, Hurricane Irma and Tropical Storm Jose, which would intensify into a hurricane. Eric Blake, a scientist at the National Hurricane Center, tweeted, “Never seen anything like this in the modern record.” Oh MY GOD!

• Homes destroyed,

• Businesses destroyed,

• Hospitals destroyed.

• Dreams destroyed.

Psalm 107:28-31 states: Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Let’s not stop there Brothers and sisters.

Mexico, was struck by an 8.2-magnitude quake, the strongest in decades, killing at least 58 people and leveling areas in some southern states. A school with young kids buried underground. People would work without sleep, desperately trying to find anyone.

Brothers and sisters, we are strong people, and we are resilient. We as people reach out every time to help in any way possible. But it’s our belief in God that gives us that strength. AMEN