No, no, no… not the down-home country singer. I mean Dolly, the menacing tropical storm that threatens the gulf coasts of Texas and Mexico. News reports tell of residents of those areas buying up such things as plywood, bottled water, flashlights and batteries so they will be ready when she hits… if she hits. Knowing what power such a storm can unleash on them and their property, the wise prepare as best they can with what resources they have.

Here in Oklahoma we don’t have hurricanes, but we do have tornadoes. Sure, they are a different kind of storm, but one thing is the same; the wise take precautions.

I’ve had the experience of seeing first hand, homes that have been destroyed by hurricanes and also more than a few that were ravaged by twisters. Sometimes there is nothing left but the foundation. Mother nature’s power is not to be ignored.

Hurricanes and tornadoes are not the worst kind of storms, however. Both can damage and destroy property and even take lives, but neither can subvert a soul.

Jesus warns us of the spiritual storms in life that can take away more than all of the insurance companies in the world can replace. Storms that tear apart families, ruin lives and rip away the joy of living leaving ugly, painful scars in their wake.

How does one guard himself and his family against such disaster? Our Lord’s plan was simple and uncomplicated. Build your house on His word:

…everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock . Matthew 8:24-25

Jesus did not promise us that building our lives on His word would mean that we would not face life’s storms. He did promise, however, that living by His divine wisdom would enable us to survive them whenever they would come.

So what would you be doing now if you lived on the gulf coast? Would you be busy boarding up windows and filling sandbags?

Ok then. What about the real storms in life, like dishonesty and betrayal? What if unfaithfulness or abuse blows hard in your way? Addictions, pornography, vulgarity, apathy, violence, disobedience, rebellion and irresponsibility are just a few more of many other storms facing God’s people all over the earth. And these are not seasonal. They can strike any time.

How are you preparing?
Marty Kessler