When God Says "Enough!"

"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."  

Psalms 29:11

I've written lately about the storms of life and such...about how life is hard and even ugly sometimes. For instance, some days we have to count the lemons until were able to count the blessings again. Then, there was the post about God not "saving the day" but He saves us through our days.  Oh, and I can't quickly forget the post written about being hidden in Him until the storm is over. I'm reminded through all this, that I CAN make it through those dark, ugly moments in life. Yes, they will come but I can overcome...and so can you.

Yesterday, my thoughts began to shift into another vein of God's faithfulness. I was thinking about Job and how God allowed Satan to make Job's life miserable on every level. It's hard to fathom how a God who loves us so deeply would allow us to go through those times in which we feel we'll never make it. Job was a man that "was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." (Job 1:1) Yet...God allowed Satan to do anything to him, with the exception of killing him, to prove to Satan that Job was the real-deal. That seems so crazy, and even warped, to our human minds, huh? 

I think about situations in my own life and the lives of those I hold near and dear in my heart. I don't always understand exactly what the Lord is doing. Often times, it doesn't make a lick of sense in my mind. I know the scripture that says it rains on the just and unjust, but sometimes it seems like torrential downpours that just won't let up. A continual pounding for the faithful, devoted, child of God. How could this be? Why? Where's God at? Why won't He hurry up and answer? We're all good at questioning and crying out to God to ease the pain and suffering, aren't we? Lord, please answer our prayers! QUICK!

What if this time it's a case of God giving the devil permission to bombard us because He trusts us to be able to handle it? That puts things in quite a different perspective, doesn't it? There is still pain, we still fear, we still long for it to be over and behind us....but somehow we have to know that God has us in the palm of His hand even in the storm. He is not short concerning His promises and He always has His eyes upon us. That brings hope even in the midst of the storms, my friend. 

In the darkest, loneliest night, when our strength is all but vanished...

God suddenly whispers, "Enough is enough!" 

BAM!!! Just like He spoke in the very beginning of time and there was light; God says "Enough!" and the storm is over. IMMEDIATELY! The devil can't argue with that. He may be allotted a time to buffet us, but then his time is up. All the drama he conjured up during that time, is suddenly ceased and there is blessed peace. Not only is there peace, but God restores and blesses above and beyond. It's almost as if we're payed back because we made it through. Sweet restoration.

He didn't bless Job again with the same things Satan took away either, no God restored above and beyond what was taken away during Job's dark storm. He's no respecter of persons either, He'll do the same for us! 

When we feel we're in those times of intense pounding, when the storms seems to beat us down, while we may be assured that the enemy of our soul is on the loose, we can rest assured knowing God is present. He is in control. We just need to keep standing, praying and living like we know to do. And, if it is indeed a time when God has permitted the devil an opportunity to try us, we can be sure that there IS going to be a moment when He whispers, "Enough is enough!" and all will be well again. 

Indeed, friend, get ready for the blessings to start pouring down upon you instead. It's a beautiful ending to a season of dark, chaotic storms. This stormy season hasn't been the end of your story, or mine, it's merely the beginning of beautifully, planned, season of restoration - made possible by the Lord of the storm. 

Let's put our umbrella's away and dance together in the drizzle. God has said, "Enough."