The weather report in Colorado Springs, CO issued a warning of a storm coming.  We packed our bags, started driving early, so we would beat the storm.  As we drove south, we saw thick, dark, pregnant clouds directly in front of us.  The thick clouds loomed over, and appeared like they would swallow us alive. It appeared as if we were leaving daylight heading towards a dark night.  I said a prayer, and held the steering tighter. Suddenly, the freeway curved east and we avoided driving through the storm.  We thanked God for letting us evade the wrath of the storm.

As we headed over the mountains we saw the other end of the storm in front us.  Soon, what seemed like a big gray wall approached us.  The ferocity of the heavy raindrops pelted our mini-van from every angle.  Visibility was down to just a few feet in front of the vehicle.  I slowed the vehicle down to 20 miles an hour, and so did many other drivers on the freeway.  The heavy raindrops morphed into hail.  I pulled the car onto the shoulder and stopped. The hail came down with a vengeance.  I was so loud and strong that we feared it would break the windshield.

It appeared as if the storm parked where we stopped, encompassing the vehicle. The hail and heavy rains poured incessantly. We prayed, asking God to save us from the storm.  I made the decision to start driving slowly to get out of the storm.  After what seemed like eternity, we saw the sun shining ahead of us.  The tail end of the storm was visible light at the end of a tunnel.  In a few more moments, we were out of the storm.  It was bright and sunny.  The temperature rose from about 50 degrees to 90 degrees in a space of few miles.  I looked in the rear view mirror.  I saw the thick, dark, pregnant clouds behind us.  We had gone through the storm, and made it out.  Praise God, it was all behind us now.

Like the storm we went through in Colorado, we all go through storms in life.  Here is what we can learn about storms:

1. Storms are part of life. It is a guarantee that every human being will go through storms at some point.  Some more than others.

2. Storms hit everyone. Life storms are indiscriminate. Young, old, rich, poor, we all go through storms.

3. Storms build and prove strength. Storms are not meant to break us but to make us strong. If we take notes, storms build character. They strengthen our faith, if we apply what we learn.

4. Storms make us run to God. Some people curse God, or run away from God when life hurts.  For most, we run to God when we face danger.  In some sense, storms work as a magnet that pulls us towards God.

5. Storms can be discouraging and tiring. Storms can make us weary and doubtful.  Storms take much out of us.  We can lose faith and focus when life hurts. Storms can make us question our very existence, and God.

6. Storms can be scary. Storms bring fear.  Storms bring us face to face with danger.

7. Storms can kill. Storms can destroy us.  Each year, storms kill people at sea, on land, and in the air.

8. Storms reveal who is with us. Storms can reveal who our friends are. It’s one thing to have 500 friends at a party, or 2,000 friends on Facebook. It’s another to know who really will be there when you need them. Storms can show us who stands with us when we hurt.  Our friends are seen in our times of deepest need.  Jesus shows up in style when we call on Him during our storms.

9. Storms reveal whose we are. Storms show that our God is bigger than our storms.  Storms ask us the question, “Who and where is your God?”  During the storms, we call on God, the Creator, to quiet down the creation.

If you are going through a storm, please remember:

• Fear not. God is with you.  He will never leave nor forsake you.
• Don’t give up. He will see you through it.
• We cannot make it alone, but with God, we are more than conquerors.
• Victory is yours. Victory belongs to God.  God fights our battles for us. You will make it.
• Thank God