The weather can be boisterous and erratic during the summer months. Storms seem to form after a hazy, hot and muggy day. They seem to swoop in during the late afternoon, turn daylight to darkness, send peals of lightning dancing across the sky, bend and break trees, dump tons of water and then say bye-bye; I will see you again soon!

We have certainly seen our share of lightning, water, wind and cloudy skies this season. Truthfully, I don’t mind a good storm as long as it’s at night and I am safely in my home.

However, this is not the case most of the time. One of my least preferred places to be during a storm or the threat of a storm is the airport. Recently, while in the airport, I got that dreaded ding (alert) on my Apple Watch notifying me that my flight has been delayed. A delay is not too bad, but when it’s followed by, “Your flight has been canceled,” that is another situation. 

Yes, that’s what happened to me last week and please pray with me that it doesn’t happen to me next week. 

Well, what do you do when the next available flight extends into the next day? I hated to call my friend to say, I need to bunk at her place for the night, but I couldn’t see myself curled up on an airport bench for 14 hours either. Of course, I made the call and prolonged my stay and fellowship with her for a few more hours.

Thank God that was an easy, but a minor inconvenient fix. Unfortunately, sometimes storms cause delays that are not so quickly or easily resolved. For example, when we find ourselves in an illness storm, a financial storm, a heart-break storm, a grieving storm, or a job lost storm, it can be more difficult to regain our grip or balance. 

What do you do when you find yourself in one of these stormy delays?

First, consider that all delays have a purpose in addition to the obvious 

Second, seek God for grace to walk through your presence circumstance victoriously

Third, do not become self-absorbed

Fourth, be a blessing to someone else

Also realize that God could have allowed the storm to:

• Test your resolve in a particular area
• Give you an opportunity to grow in your faith
• Get your attention
• Do a self-examination 
• Remind you of your weaknesses 
• Re-evaluate your priorities
• Test your motives
• Sift your friendships

Most of all remember… “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Posted by drcaretha.crawford@gmail.com on Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 @ 12:02AM
Categories: Inspirational