Pastor's Pen

Beloved- what you need during a hopeless situation is a courageous stand! According to Charles Stanley there are six purposes that motivate God for allowing the storms of life:
 
(1)    Cleansing: to get our attention Psalm 119:67, 71
 
(2)    Companionship: God desires that we walk in an intimate relationship with Him.  We must be reading His Word, listening to Him; talking to Him and seeking His mind and heart to find His will for our life. Psalm 57:1-3
 
(3)    Conformity: conforming us to the likeness of His Son.
 
(4)    Comfort: God does not always want to just do something IN us, but often His ultimate goal is to do something THROUGH us.  But if you want to be a blessing to others, you have to be broken.  A vessel that's unbroken has very limited use. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
 
(5)    Convictions: pain and suffering solidifies your conviction that God is sufficient, He is with you and will care for you.
 
(6)    Change: Paul is a great example of one who changed when God got his attention on the Damascus Road.
 
Remember, the deeper the valley, the darker the storm and the more intense the pain, the greater the preparation of your heart to be a blessing to other people.

Blessings-
​Pastor Joe