Are You Prepared for a Spiritual Storm

As the Apostle Paul described the perils of his evangelistic endeavors (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) there is no doubt that his suffering was a tremendous test of his faith. Yet through all those storms of trouble and trial he persevered and remained true to Christ. He wrote from a Roman prison, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) What spiritual strength it must have taken to pen such a profound statement! For the modern day Christian, spiritual storms can come in all shapes and sizes. From the sly remark made by an unbeliever to physical abuse or imprisonment because one stands for the cause of Christ. For most of us our personal suffering is mild in comparison to others, but still our faith is tested from even the most trivial trouble.

Just as many of the powerful empires of history, America finds itself on the downward slope of moral decline making less and less room for God and His people. The time may be near when we will suffer greatly for declaring God’s truths as outlined in the Scriptures. As that time nears, Christians must ask themselves, "Am I prepared for the on-coming spiritual storm?" If we believe the bible to be true, then we understand the certainty of tribulation for the believer. Paul warned Timothy, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)

However, this gloomy forecast does not have to discourage us. If we build upon a firm foundation, that being Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11), then our spiritual house will endure the storm just as the man who built his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-25). With the right attitude, we will strengthen ourselves during the smaller, less serious trials of life thus building spiritual strength which will enable us to weather the major tempest (James 1:2-3). We’re assured that God will never "leave us or forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5) and have the hope of all hope, that eternal place prepared for us by the Savior. (John 14:1-4).

Jay Launius
2021
Maud church of Christ
Maud, Texas