When Life Gives You Tornadoes, Submit to Christ and Find Salvation

It's been two and a half weeks since my last post.  I have had difficulty thinking of anything to write and even feeling any kind of motivation to do so.  I think it is because of both circumstances and conviction that I have run into this problem

On April 27th we started out driving to Alabama to see Amy's parents.  As we were driving in early that morning we found ourselves in the midst of potential tornadoes, and actually drove through one about  an hour east of Birmingham.  Late that afternoon, we experienced first hand what would become the deadliest tornado outbreak in US history since the 20's.

Over the last week or so we have found ourselves in the midst of other personal circumstances that have been extremely challenging and stressful.  As difficult personal circumstances often due, I have found myself asking God lots of questions.  As God often does, those questions have been used by His Spirit to bring both comfort and conviction of sin.

When difficult circumstances arise out of God's Providence, it seems that we have two basic options in our response:  We can either become angry, discouraged and depressed, or we can allow God to use those circumstances to humble ourselves before Him and trust His promises such as Rom 8:28.  To make this decision, we need a better example.

Philippians 2:5-13
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [1] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, [2] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

This passage has become God's grace and mercy to me in my situation, as it has caused me to look to Christ in His.  As the sinless God-Man took the form of a servant and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross to the glory of the Father, how could I, as a sinner saved by Grace, go through my situations and not respond in the same way?

vs. 5 His sinless righteousness and the victory of His death and resurrection are mine!

vs. 6-8 All that I am and have in Christ, though I deserve destruction, was because of His great humility and sacrifice displayed in the crucifixion.

vs. 9-11 Because of His obedience in death, I am now the servant and brother of a risen and glorified King who will continue to reign in victory, displayed ultimately in the consummation of all things when every knee shall bow before Christ, to the glory of the Father.

vs. 12 In light of these glorious truths, how can I not also follow Christ in obedience and submission as I work out the salvation He has purchased for me!?!

vs. 13 I must work it out in the fear of the Lord as it is God Himself working in me, for the sake of His own glory.

Even if the circumstance of my life lead to an outcome that is not what I would want, I can and I must, respond to these circumstances as Christ did...with obedience and submission to the will of the Father, for the sake of His glory!  At first glance, this seems almost like a miserable and legalistic existence, but I must remember that it was "for the joy" set before Him that He endured the cross and scorned it's shame.

So to, when I consider all that I am and have in Jesus, as well as what I truly deserve, that is where I too find true joy and peace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Then we can rejoice with the Psalmist in Ps 62:5-7:

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.