There simply is no way of getting around it; Pennsylvania has been hammered by storms this winter. This is not to state that other places have not been getting hammered, because I'm sure they have, but it has been an unexpected amount for the winter season. From powdery snow to bone-clenching ice storms I've had a front row seat to the elements as they've howled around my little trailer.
Most readers know what takes place in an ice-storm, but for those who do not, let me enlighten you. Definitely the most deadly of the winter storms, "ice-storms" sweep in, encase everything in ice and then gradually bend or break your will. Quite literally if you do not have the strength to stand, in this case speaking from the standpoint of a tree during an ice-storm, you will topple.
The thing is, from the outside anyway, every tree looks like it can withstand an ice storm before it hits. When the weather truly gets rough the mettle of the tree is finally tested. A tree just down the road from my home looked solid before the storm, but in its' aftermath was left sprawling in a tangle of broken limbs and twisted branches. I never would have thought this particular tree was so brittle inside but the storm is what highlighted the issue.
The analogy may be applied to people and the "storms" of life we each face on a regular and consistent basis. Storms I daresay bring out your character, at least I know they bring out mine. But will the next storm be the one to break you, or make you stronger? Will the next one be your downfall, one in which a friend says, "I never knew they were so brittle." Unfortunately, storms aren't going away anytime soon. They are the tools God may use to test our mettle and see where we turn in times of need. The presence of a storm does not equal an automatic fold however. This is enormously comforting as my point is not to cause fear or intimidation, but it is to challenge you regarding where you turn to before the storms and in the storms. Are you sticking close to Jesus? If so, He will give you the strength to wade out the storm. If not, well you know what to do...or ask me.
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