A Closer Walk

A CLOSER WALK
Greg Worthen
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about,” Haruki Murakami, from his book “Kafka On The Shore.” Mr. Murakami is a Japanese novelist and short story writer who was born in 1949 and is still living.
Each of us, including those who are children of God, experience what we may call storms in our lives. Trials, hardships, difficulties. Whatever we may choose to call them they are part of living here on earth. Couldn't we live without these things? “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.....Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right,” 1 Peter 4:12-13 and 19 NASB.
Mr. Murakami states in his quote above that after we have come through the storm we won't be the same person who went into the storm. Could that be the purpose of storms? To change us into a better version of ourselves? This quote is on a small flip calendar on my desk where I sit to write these columns: “Stabilize your soul with the Sovereignty of God. He reigns supreme over every detail of the universe.” He reigns supreme over every detail of the universe. A reminder: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” Genesis 1:1 NASB. We, you and I, stand on God's earth which is in our solar system which is part of the Milky Way galaxy. And there are other galaxies. He also created the vegetation in the fields, the beasts of the fields, the birds of the air, and the fish in the seas. It is all His. Including us.
He reigns supreme over every detail of the universe. That means that anything that comes into our lives or impacts our lives is arranged by Him. Said another way, nothing comes into our lives that our God has not sent, allowed, condoned, or consented to by this same God. Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God should entrust their souls to a FAITHFUL Creator. “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself,” 2 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB. Even though we may at some point be unfaithful to our God, He remains faithful to us. Because for Him to be unfaithful would be to deny Himself. And we can rest assured that He will never do that.
So why storms? Why trials? Why difficulties? Because we are the clay and our God is the potter (the person who shapes the clay into a desirable vessel useful for the purpose the potter intended for it). “But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand,” Isaiah 64:8 NASB. All of us are the work of His hands. He is always and ever molding us to be more like Christ our Savior. He is teaching us by experience how to live life. He is leading us toward and into a better way. Wiser decisions. More prudent actions. He not only controls which storm comes our way, but also the length and intensity of each storm. And our Father has a purpose for each which we may not understand or even agree with. And as Mr. Murakami stated, when we come out of the storm, we are a different person than the one who walked into the storm
No matter what assails us. No matter what besets us. We should be practicing the art of entrusting our souls to a faithful, righteous, gracious, and just God. Because He reigns Supreme over every detail of His universe. Amen? Amen!
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well With my soul It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul”. First and second stanzas and refrain from the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.” Words by Horatio G. Spafford, 1828-1888, music by Phillip Bliss, 1838-1876.

.