'TIL THE STORMS PASSES OVER

These are indeed trying times that we live in! Sometimes the way gets dark. Every day for the past few days, in the heat of the day a dark cloud will block out the rays of the sun. It will pass, the sky will lighten up , then later the sky will darken again.

I thought about the dark clouds that come in a Christians life. When dark times come I seem to think of the song 'TILL THE STORM PASSES OVER.

In the dark of the midnight, have I oft hid my face,

While the storms howl above me, and there,s no hiding place

Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry

Keep me safe til the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispers. 'There is no need to try,

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by.

But I know thou art with me and tomorow I'll rise

Where the storms never darken the skies.

When the long night has ended, and the storms come no more,

Let me stand in thy presence on that bright peaceful shore,

In that land where the temptest never comes, Lord, may I

Dwell with thee when the storm passes by.

'Til the storms passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

I read where F.B.Meyer wrote: Clouds, as dust, conceal Him, but we must not dwell with those dark and discouraging thoughts as if the clouds were all! God is behind those looming masses, working for us and with us. He is coming to our rescue, showing Himself strong on our behalf. Whenever you face another cloudy day, be aware of the fact that God cannot be far away. What you see is only the dust He is raising in His progress toward you. He is near! Trust Him!

Those puffy clouds may be a great mass to you, equal to the Alps in magnificence, in height, in girth, and in impossibilities. To God, however, the clouds are a particle of dust. Your difficulties, perplexities, and anxieties are very little things to Him. With one movement of His hand He can sweep them all away just as you might remove dust from a table. Can you not trust Him? Your tears move Him, your difficulties are nothing but dust to Him. He is coming to you with majesty! (Unquote)

I thought as a younger person, we have trials. Surely the Lord is trying to mold us. Then as adult hood came and the storms were of a different nature, surely the Lord is trying to mold us.

In raising children and trying to mold their life's and praying that God will lead them in the right direction in life .. surely this was a great responsibility. Then as they began to make choices of their own, the thing that touches and grieves a Mother's heart is when one makes a wrong choice. I'm sure a Dad, also, but it seemed in our home that Dad showed it ia different way. Sure we are grieved, our hearts are torn and sometimes it seems crushed to the limit. Seems all our dreams for that child is at our feet in ashes. But as F.B. Meyer wrote, Isn't that only a particle of dust? Can we trust God in these times?

May I say that we are going through a time of heartache with a grown child. But no matter what wrong choices they make: We still love. That love will never go away even if a child choses to distance himself from you. I ask myself what is God trying to teach us through all

trying dark cloudy days? Discouraged? No! We can't afford to be.

My desire is that whatever we go through in life that we may shine forth as overcomers because of Him. I feel that God wants to turn heartaches and sorrows into service for Him. I feel He wants us to draw closer to Him when these times comes.

Herbert Lockyer writes: "The dramatic Book of Job declares that he patriach's sufferings were not a token of God's judgment upon him for wickedness; they are rather an evidence of God's confidence in him for his integrity. Job portrays why the Godly should suffer. It is because trial is a trust from the Giver of every good and perfect gift to be borne for His glory.

There seem to be a majesty in his sufferings and cloudy days also. But Job came forth as gold.

And said "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

In these last days before the Lord comes the devil is making an all out attack on Christian families. We must stick together and bear one another's burdens. A very special family in our church is facing some mighty dark days. I can't say that I know all they are going through, but

what is my duty as a child of God? To help them bear that burden! To pray and let them know they are loved. That black cloud that they are under can become the brightest cloud. I know they will come out victorious because they know where their help comes from. But right now it seems the sun will never shine again. Will you pray for this family? Our heart goes out to them and I'm sure yours would too if you knew the circumstances. But God knows!

Job cried out"Oh, that I might know where to find Him, that I might come to His seat." The more he cried out, the more the darkness intensified in the clouds that hung over Him. Job could not find God in those awful clouds. he went forward, backward, to the right and to the left, but could not find Him. But Job in all his distress said: "But He knoweth the way that I take: When He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

I am made to realiaze more and more that God knows exactly where His children are. He knows exactly when and how to help us. Even in the cloud . Just hang on and the storm will pass over!

He has proven this to be many times. He wants our trust!