by Marilyn Ehle
“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (The Living Translation)
Recently much of the eastern United States endured flooding as a result of heavy rains after a hurricane. Roads were washed out and people stranded far from help. Small streams became raging torrents, ripping houses from their foundations. Electric power was nonexistent for hundreds of thousands of people. As one woman discarded spoiled food, she said, “I feel like a fish forced into a river.”
Where do fish go in a flood? Are they swept away to sure destruction? If they survive, how do they survive? One conservation specialist says that many fish go deep into the river to sit on the bottom where the current is least strong, the muddy, opaque water concealing them. Some simply adjust to go with the flow, enduring the stress but with only short-term storm effects.
While not everyone experiences a watery flood in his or her lifetime, similar devastation comes into the lives of everyone. A previously healthy, active child is suddenly diagnosed with cancer. A young adult son with a promising future suffers a deadly accident. The well-planned career is snatched away without warning. Divorce unexpectedly shatters a family.
Where does the Christian go in a flood? Many of us have learned to go “deep into the river to sit on the bottom.” We cannot avoid the swirling tempest, but we get into the quiet space with God where we can hear His whispers. Life demands that in one respect we “go with the flow,” tending to the demands of everyday responsibilities, but because of that deep place with God, the storm only alters us, but does not destroy.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2011/09/15/me_fish-in-a-flood/
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Short Thoughts for Cell Phones – God-daily.com
