Sometimes the storms of life are more like passing showers, there's not much to them. After they pass, we find ourselves none-the-worse for wear. Sure, they may rain on our parade, but we are quickly able to dry ourselves off and get back to happily living our life.

Then there are the larger storms. Sometime even enormous. The clouds on the horizon are dark and ominous. Even from a distance, their threats are definitely loud enough to stir us from our deepest dreams.

In the past few years, here in eastern North Carolina, we have had more than our share of rain storms, ice storms, hurricanes and severe flooding. Many lost there homes, and with the threat of another massive storm approaching, many people have not even recovered from last year's devastating event.

Before the last hurricane, in September of 2018, we were already extremely over our annual rainfall. Several of my neighbors and I had been struggling to keep our shrubs from drowning. One neighbor said she was praying for a drought. It was tempting after so much rain. But being an avid gardener, I think deep down, she knew that without rain her yard won't grow at all. I suggested that we could tweak our request to simply praying for an ample amount of gentle showers instead of the torrential non-stop deluge.

But, such is life. In our lives, just as with our weather, no matter where you live, there will be storms. They threaten our stability, weaken our fortitude and seek to undermine our hard earned accomplishments. We often spend most of of time trying to figure out "why" we experience stormy times and "wishing" our rainy days away. We sometimes feel we have had enough. As the rain begins to fall at a pace far beyond our ability to recover, it stirs feeling of panic, anxiety, and even depression. As the winds and rain obscure our view, we begin to lose our perspective and focus only on the turmoil and not on the benefits the storm provides.

The wind and rain, lightening and thunder are some of the most powerful forces on earth. But the truth is, storms serve an important and beneficial purpose. They provide a tremendously essential and life-saving function by equalizing and balancing extreme temperatures on our planet. Lightening releases ozone into our atmosphere. Ozone is a vital gas that helps shield our planet against harmful ultraviolet sunlight. Lightening also helps dissolve unusable nitrogen in water into usable fertilizer. Just like the benefits of fire, winds serve to eliminate weak, diseased, and dead trees—giving the prospect for new seeds to emerge. Together with the rain, these elements serve to replenish, support, revitalize and refresh the earth.

Just like the storms that affect our planet, the storms of life have a specific purpose to fulfill—they serve as an indicator of whether or not we are strong and resistant and offer us opportunities for change.

Storms signal coming changes in our environment. Sometimes we need the wind and the rain to blow and wash away the old and useless things from our lives and grant us the opportunity to experience the new. They offer us a much needed opportunity to assess where we are in our lives, and expose places where maturity, growth and stability is needed.

During the past few years, I have experienced a deluge of emotional storms. External and internal storms that threatened to undermine my fortitude, rob my peace and shake my faith. Though it all, I've had the opporuntiy to grow in my trust and knowledge of the Lord. To put away the questions of "what for" and "why" and realize the importance for the journey. The circumstances allowed me to take inventory of my thoughts, emotions, and actions—to connect with unwanted fears and clear a path for peace.  And, just like the fragrance after the rain—life after the storms became sweeter than before. I can now face the oncoming storms in life with greater faith, stand more firmly planted. Renewed and refreshed in spirit, I now have the opportunity to grow onward and upward with greater fervor. 

Yes, we can. We have many more miles to go. 

"When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2