When I moved from western Canada to the southeastern United States, there were several things I bid farewell to. I exchanged tearful goodbyes with Hockey Night in Canada, ketchup chips, the Rocky Mountains, and snow. I did not know when I would see any of these favorites of mine again, but life is full of surprises.
I recently spent the weekend in Atlanta, attending and preaching at a conference held at my uncle’s church. From the moment I stepped off the plane, the heavens were opened and every rain drop in our atmosphere fell on that city. Sucking up my pride, I sheltered myself from the downpour under my sister’s pink umbrella during the moments I was forced to walk outside.
My last day there was a Sunday, and I spent my morning in church. When I walked into the building, it was raining as hard as it had been the previous days. However, at the end of the service, we were given a shocking announcement: The rain had turned to snow! The stampede of people spilling into the lobby could only be rivaled by the wildebeest herd in The Lion King. As I pushed my way after the crowd, I felt like Armageddon had suddenly descended upon the world. With camera phones raised to the sky, the crowds scrambled to their cars in an attempt to return safely home (after stopping at Food Lion to stock up on bread and milk).
Driving on the roads only brought more danger. The road conditions were bad, but not as bad as the drivers frequenting them. Cars sat in ditches and the wailing of ambulance sirens filled the air. When I arrived at the airport, I received the joyful news that my plane had been delayed three hours due to weather. As I sat by the gate and waited for my plane to arrive, all I could do was laugh to myself. Perhaps leaving some things behind was not so bad after all.
The right circumstances can reveal a lot. When life is painless it is easy to fool ourselves into thinking we are spiritually strong. Our faith may look authentic to everyone until it is tested. Following the snow storm, streets were littered with thick tree branches that had never developed the strength to withstand a snowstorm.
I am learning that you cannot prepare for a disaster once it has already descended; at that point, the time for preparation has passed. If I neglect my spiritual life, it should not come as a surprise when I crack under the pressure. Jesus has the power to withstand any storm, but I must draw near to Him. If Jesus could calm the winds and the waves, can He not also handle the circumstances in my life? The time for preparation is now. God knows the weather forecast for tomorrow; that is why I must listen to Him today.
So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? Matthew 8:27
Mike Blackaby is 25 years old and is the college and young adult pastor at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, GA. Mike loves to play music, loves to snowboard, play hockey, and cheers for the Colorado Avalanche. He is terrified of spiders, but loves reading fantasy novels, watching movies, taking road trips, building camp fires, and will do any roller coaster if someone goes with him. You can contact him via Facebook.