* Follower of Christ Friday* Stormy Weather

Going into a storm, currently In a storm, or just coming out of a storm.  

Doesn’t it seem like at all times in our lives we fall into one of these categories?  I know it does for me.  

I bring up storms today because of a conversation I was recently having with my husband, Doug.  

Perhaps it was because he kept hearing me say things like “the enemy was attacking, the enemy did this, the enemy was lying etc.”  As if everything that had happened was to the credit of satan.  Don’t misunderstand me, now, because I know satan is here to steal, kill, and destroy.  That’s all he is here to do. 

I want you to be reminded or enlightened to the fact that God is in the midst of this… for a reason.  

Being the smart guy he is, Doug said something along the lines of “…don’t forget that God may be allowing you to have these ‘attacks’.”  Awwww man, that’s right… I had completely forgot about that part.  

Why did he have to bring that up…Ugh!!! 

My mind immediately wandered over to the book of Job.  Job was so blessed in all areas of his life with family, finances, belongings etc…I had totally forgotten that satan had went to God and asked for permission to pretty much ruin Job’s life, and God allowed it! 

“Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Did you read that??  Satan asked for permission to test Job, and God allowed it.  Read that again!  God. Allowed. It!  

So, “Brandi, are you saying God allows Satan to test us?”  Yes!  That’s exactly what I am saying.  

But why in the world would a loving God allow him to do this? 

The reason is because He knows that to form us into the image of himself, so that we can walk in our destiny and created purpose, he has to get the junk out of us.  He wants us to be made “perfect and completely developed in our faith lacking in nothing.”   

This doesn’t mean that we are to be perfect in appearance or deed, rather that we be made mature in our faith. We are even to consider it JOY. 

James 1:2 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

So my dear friends, instead of always thinking “Why is satan doing this to me?  Why is the enemy attacking etc?  Let’s instead ask God, “Father, what are you trying to change in me?  What lesson am I to learn by all of this.”  

We WILL continue to repeat the lesson until we learn it.  I don’t know about you but I’d rather learn it the first time.  Unfortunately, I get a lot of “incomplete” grades, and have to repeat the course.  

Remember God is not tempting you, that would be the enemy. However, God most definitely will allow us to be tempted  in areas that he wants to refine, giving satan permission to do so.  God promises that he will NOT leave us even though we WILL have tribulation.   

Coal doesn’t become a diamond without lots of heat and pressure and then after that it still has to be chiseled, cut, and polished before it’s able to truly shine in its intended form.   Same for us.  

He who began a good work will surely bring it to completion.  

Lean into Him and trust that he truly only has good things for us.  

Learn the lesson, become the diamond. 

Brandi Bell is the wife of Doug Bell and the mom to three amazing boys; 

Paxton, Cooper, and Jarvis. She and Doug have been married for almost 19 years, 

and since 2005, have been serving as Worship Pastor and Lead Pastor 

at CrossPointe Church in Olive Branch, MS. Day to day 

you can find her homeschooling her boys, surrounded by music, 

enjoying planners, good writing pens, and coffee.