During the easy days, we often drift along with the current.  Life is busy.  We go to work, we keep a tidy house, mow lawns, and greet our friends. 
Life may feel smooth and comfortable and we may quietly assume that the calm will last.  We are wrapped up in the routine of work, entertainment and the accumulation of things. 

 Then the storm comes, everything changes.  It interrupts our momentum, forcing us to stop and face what we might otherwise avoid or ignore.  It strips away the ego and life’s distractions, exposing the subtle truths about ourselves that everyday life often hides.  No one escapes.  You nor I nor the movie star, the governor, the President!

Sometimes the storm comes one at a time; other times they converge, crashing down all at once, leaving us gasping for air in the deluge.  What we once took for granted suddenly becomes uncertain or disappears; the familiar no longer reassures us.  In these moments, we may feel lost, shaken to our core, unsure of what to do next or what lies ahead.

Storms reveal the impermanence we live within.  What once felt stable…… our routines, our assumptions, our sense of security, can shift in an instant.  Within this impermanence lies the opportunity, the chance to see what truly matters and to loosen our grip on what is temporary.

 The storms strengthen our resilience, courage, and adaptability.  Storms push us out of our comfort zones, forcing us to adjust, endure, and find new footing when the ground beneath us gives way. 

Storms are not God given but they are allowed. He uses these storms for our benefit. The storms teach us how to really live and who we are!

Yes, hiding within the storm is an unexpected gift. The storm slows us, stills us, and invites us to look at our true selves. In this way the storm becomes our teacher.

The storm teaches humility, the recognition of our limits and understanding that our true strength lies in responding with patience, honesty and grace.   Storms deepen our gratitude.
 After enduring hardship, periods of calm are no longer taken for granted.  We become more aware of peace when it returns and more appreciative of what truly matters; family, friends,  acts of kindness, and the everyday beauty of what at once seemed ordinary.

So, the next time the storm comes, let it slow you down. Let it humble you. Let it create the space for you to reflect and see things anew. God might be guiding you toward a wiser, truer version of yourself.

Remember, that while calm waters may allow one to drift, it is the storm that teaches one how to stand!

                                                                                                                Storms strengthen us!