Bad Days, Storms, and Obedience

We have all had bad days—days when we wondered what we were doing with our lives. For me, a bad day is when I feel I don’t want to be principal any more…a day when I say to God, “Remember me? I’m one of your boys—the coach. I’m the guy who wrote the books—the devotionals. Lord, is this supposed to be happening?” We’ve all wondered why Christians have to go through the storms of life. If we’re honest, we have a tendency to think that maybe some other folks in the world deserve tough times more than we do.

After Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount, He concluded with a powerful message about two men who heard His words. Both men heard, but one man was obedient and acted on what Jesus said. One did not. We also learn that a storm came upon both men—the one who heard and acted as well as the one who did not act. The storm fell upon both. It rained on both houses. The wind blew against both houses. The streams rose upon both houses. Bad days come to the Christian and to the non-Christian. Christians have crises, experience sickness, and suffer tragedy.

The difference is not in the storm, but in the foundation of life. If our lives are founded on Christ, the storms will still come; but we, through Christ, will stand strong. We, through Christ, will overcome tragedy. We, through Christ, will outlast defeat.

Our challenge is to be obedient to His words, to act upon His commandments, and to live His truth in our lives. Christ is our rock, the eternal foundation of our lives. The storms will surely come, but thanks be to God, through Christ our faith will stand strong!