Loves Like a Hurricane

Loves like  a hurricane

The man’s body told the story. His shoulders slumped, his eyes seldom left the ground. No terrible tragedy had befallen him. He was not carrying anything beyond the disappointments and responsibilities that are our common lot! But, somewhere he gave up hope and lost sight of the Light. He had allowed life to beat him down. If he had known the words of Elijah, I think he might have made them his life song: “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”   (1 Kings 19:4)

Elijah was an amazing man, used by God, whose faith sparked a national revival. Despite this, he let life, critics, and enemies take over. Their threats, combined with his fatigue, stole his hope and his future. He withdrew into isolation,  shrank into a ball of self-pity, and asked to die! But, the Lord was not done with Elijah. He did not kick him while he was down. Instead He quietly came near to him twice, reminding him of the Truth, restoring the right perspective. He re-commissioned Elijah and sent him back to Israel, where He told him that there were still thousands who had not gone after other gods.  The prophet regained his faith and returned to stand up against evil and a king named Ahab who was among the worst to govern that nation!

God loves to bless and despite the troubles of our lives we must hold onto hope. Instead of Elijah’s sad song, “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors;”  we need the anthem of faith to guide us.  Change the tune!  Sing the song that Paul sang when the problems piled up in front of him:  “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. “ (2 Cor. 4:17)  Paul’s song was not a dirge sung at the funeral of his future. It was a worship hymn celebrating the love of his Father in Heaven who held him secure. Take your cue from his response to the heartbreak in Philippi. When the evil men of that city hated him and schemed to have him beaten and imprisoned, he found faith to sing at midnight. His song released the power of God and the jail was rocked to its foundations. The greatest miracle, however, was the salvation that came to the jailer and his family, which sparked the formation of a vital church in that region.  (See Acts 16)

Here’s a word from the Word. Do not just read it. Believe it and take the promise.  "The Lord will hold you in his hands for all to see—a splendid crown in the hands of God. Never again will you be called the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God’s Delight and the Bride of God, for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his own. Your children will care for you with joy, O Jerusalem, just as a young man cares for his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride." (Isaiah 62:3-5, NLT)

May the Lord’s love keep you secure,

The grace of God save you from despair,

The peace of the Spirit wrap tightly ‘round you,

And the hope of Heaven be your light.

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How He Loves

He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane

I am a tree, bending beneath

The weight of His wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden, I am unaware of

These afflictions eclipsed by glory,

I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me!

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes;

If grace is an ocean we're all sinking!

So Heaven meets earth,

Like an unforeseen kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

When I think about the way that…

Oh, how He loves us so

Oh, how He loves us

How He loves us so

John Mark McMillan

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