Overview:
The article discusses the importance of seeing clearly during storms in life, and how God sometimes uses storms to put us in a position of obedience so that we can be a blessing to others. It draws on the Old Testament story of Jonah, who was disobedient to God's command and faced a storm as a result. The article suggests that repenting of disobedience is key to seeing clearly during and after the storm, and that we can be in a position where God can trust us to play a part in the transformation of others.
So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18
This time of the year is one of the most active for thunderstorms and severe weather in North Texas. Anytime we have a series of bad storms, I’m reminded that something good can come out of storms and one of my favorite lines from a song I remember as a child “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone.” The music of the song by Johnny Nash was always so upbeat reinforcing the positive message of the song. However, as Christians God not only wants us to see clearly after the storm: he wants us to see clearly while the storm is going on. Moreover, we can also learn a little about having faith and seeing clearly during storms from the Old Testament story of Jonah.
Like so many of us, Jonah found himself in an uncomfortable position praying to God for
deliverance from the consequences of his storm of disobedience. His problem wasn’t seeing
clearly. Both Jonah’s vision and hearing were clear: he heard God tell him to go to Nineveh but
decided to do something different.
Jonah 1:1-3 says “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonahthe son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” God then allowed a storm to trouble the waters. But in doing so, God put Jonah in circumstances that made it more difficult for him to deny the power and presence of God.
Jonah survived the storm but was then swallowed by a large fish and forced to spend three days and nights thinking about his situation. It wasn’t until Jonah 2:9 when Jonah prayed, “But I will sacrifice to You, With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD” that God had the fish release him. During this time, rather than focus on what he saw, God allowed Jonah to focus on what he didn’t see. And what he didn’t want to see was how his obedience would have a positive impact on the lives of others.
Similarly, God sometimes has to use storms in our lives to get us to a place of obedience
so that we can ultimately be in a position to be blessing to others. Even though we may
pretend that we didn’t hear God, we have to be honest like Jonah and admit that we heard him;
we just chose not to obey. Repenting of disobedience is the key to seeing clearly during and
after the storm. Seeing clearly after the storm means that we can be in a position where God
can trust us to ultimately play a part in the transformation of others.
Shewanda Riley is a Dallas, Texas based author of “Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of Prayers for Writers.” Email her at preservedbypurpose@gmail.com , follow her on Instagram at @shewandawrites or you can listen to her podcast The Chocolate Auntie Podcast on the Alive Podcasting Network .
