Are Storms for punishment?

When we speak of God extending “grace” what does that mean? I am not asking what the definition is…because a very safe simple one is: “God’s love extended in unmerited favor.” What I am asking is, what does that look like? How does the word “grace” flesh out in reality? When we honestly think about it, God’s grace extends into all areas of our life at all levels. Whether it be concerning the most significant issue in our existence, Eternal Life:

Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

None of us could live the life of perfection that satisfies the holiness of God, so He in His love and mercy, came to us, in the person of Jesus Christ, and through His sacrifice, supplied a way for us to enter into a relationship with the God of perfection. Unlike the idols of this world that demand we lowly humans serve them by; offering our rice to rats instead of our children, or torturing our bodies to deserve their acceptance, or kill those that don’t agree with us, our God…the one True God, knew we could never reach Him, so He reached down to us! In reality…He served us! That’s the grace that opens the door to eternal life to all that desire it!

Grace starts there and moves to even the most minute parts of our life. God even extends the grace of ignorance! Yes, God spares us from things we could not understand or handle at the moment.

How can we, which are finite, comprehend Him, when He is Infinite? In His grace He has set the boundaries:

Deuteronomy 29:29  “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

He also knows the seasons of when we can deal with issues. Could you imagine how horrible our life would be if at 5 we understood all that the opposite sex was about? That would bring a horrible meaning to the words “play ground!” No, God in His grace allows our mind to begin to mature in our concept of the opposite sex as our bodies also begin to mature. His grace does the same with out spiritual maturity, Jesus extended grace to His disciples:

John 16:12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.

He knew that when the Holy Spirit came His men would be able to grasp better the truths they were not ready for yet. God has extended that grace to me also, if I fully understood the cost of discipleship in “total” as a brand new Christian I might have quit. Yet, in His timing, through His grace He has walked each step of maturity with me.

From a message I heard, we have been looking at times when God allows things into our lives that feel as though they will crush us. Storms…why does God allow them? Many falsely believe it always must be punishment, but we have already seen that God allows this in order:

·      1. To develop humility!

·      2. To drive you to pray.

Our context is 2 Corinthians 12:7–17.

Here are reasons three and four: He allows storms into our lives:

3. So God will dispense His grace

V. 9  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Let’s remember - Grace is the ability to get the enablement to deal with your circumstances…WHEN you NEED it! God is not going to supply the courage you might need to be martyred for Him, when you are sitting safely in your home far away from persecution! That is not how grace works.

Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

Remember – during this time the disciples were being threaten, beaten and imprisoned. Yet, they we able to remain bold witnesses for Christ! God extended strengthening grace!

James 4:6  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

James is talking about the battle we have with the world system we live in. He points out God “gives!” Whenever we face any overwhelming circumstance, God’s grace is one prayer away. May I emphasize here though, this is why abiding in Christ is so essential. When you are close to Him you are in a constant state of communion. When you drift and have become distant, your first reaction will be to try and handle it on your own. That usually leads to disaster.

Lastly, God allows storms into our lives:

4. To demonstrate His power

V. 9 Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Nothing builds faith into our life more effectively than when we are faced with a fearsome storm, and God intervenes with His power! When we keep a record of His acts in our life, like the “Jordon Stones” from the Old Testament, when another storm arises, we will not be shaken from our foundation! 

Also God uses the circumstances of our life to help us remember:

1. What real Power is!

2. Who controls all that Power!

3. Where we should turn when we are affected and need help in the midst of that Power.

The Pastor that spoke shared this Scripture after that unbelievable hail storm:

Psalm 147:17–18 He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.

Think about it, moisture that crystallizes, falls from 60,000 feet – when it hits it is traveling between 90-130 mph! That is awesome…Now consider how much MORE awesome is the One that controls all that!!

Scripture states it well:

2 Samuel 7:22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!

Meditation: In the midst of the Storm, what do you do? Why? Does it help? How? When you view your problems, do you spend most of your time focusing on how “big” they are? What would happen if you focused on how BIG your God is?