God is There

I walked outside today with a friend. It was hot outside (it should not be this hot in October), smoky smelling and ashes were flying around. We are relatively far from the fires yet the effects do not go unnoticed. Life just does not go on as usual when you know that so many around you are suffering and feeling displaced. It seems as though life has slowed down. Businesses are closed down, schools have canceled classes and people are staying indoors.

The usual vibrant, blue sky is a haze of gray

It seems to me like it would be easy to wonder where God is in times like this. What type of God would allow people to lose their homes? How could something like this possibly make people turn to God.

And yet, God is still there. God has always been there. God has been here all along. Christ wants to use all the situations in our life to bring us closer to Him. A friend and I have decided to start memorizing the book of James. In the first few verses of chapter 1 there are some nuggets of wisdom.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
James 1:2-4

Trouble --> should give way to joy

Testing --> should lead to a growth in endurance

Outcome --> strength in character; readiness for anything

Being "ready for anything" impacted me in particular. Life throws so many things our way. How will we respond? Will we give room for joy? Will endurance grow in our lives? I pray that God will use these fires to work in people's lives.

I KNOW God is going to use these fires for good. I pray that God will show me and those that surround me how we can be a part of the process.