The presence of storm is an opportunity for the eagle bird to fly higher. In the midst of gross darkness, light displays its utmost importance and glory. Gold glitters only when it's passed through furnace. This is not so with man, rather storm is the worse evil that can happen to him, why? A wise man asked.
Man tends to complain and grumble over every storm that befalls him but fails to look at the benefits of the storm. Has storm any benefit? Yes if only man could see. No wonder Robert Schuler wrote that when faced with a mountain, don't quit but keep on striving until you climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath or simply stay right there and turn the mountain into gold mine, with God's help. You see! That is an over comer;s mentality.

A friend of mine walked up to me and asked, " Is there God? If there were God, why is He not seeing my situation? Why does He allow storms to bombard my life?" She doubted the existence of God because she felt God was not mindful of her situation and that the world was no longer a better place to stay. She felt that life was vanity and that success is a real fluke and a matter of chance and luck.

Not too long after that incidence, I met with a child, an orphan of a very tender age who has already named the world an unfriendly place, lonely and nobody for solace. But there is this unique determination in this little child to carry on against all odds. One day this little child was famishing but no one to run to, and he remembered this common prayer "Give us this day our daily bread", then he thought for a moment and looked up to heavens wondering if God really exists and from his heart cried " God are you there? You promised us our daily bread, I need it now!".

I was lost in thoughts for years searching, seeking if God really exists. If yes, why will evil happen to good people? But the things around me (the air, moon, sun, water, etc, etc.), the whole creation declares God's grandeur; they continue to remain mysterious even amid of so much discoveries and civilization that nobody could tell of the existences.

Then I asked, who was there when the celestial bodies were formed out of nothing? Who marshaled out the starry hosts with their respective commands that none of them has ever ceased to be under the influence and efficacy of the commands? Who was there when the foundation of the Earth was laid? Who was there when the corner stone of the Earth was laid? Who can tell when the morning stars sang together and all angels shouted together? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb? Who knows the way to the abode of light and where darkness resides, where is their dwelling places? Who has ever entered the storehouse of snow or seen the storehouse of the hail? Who gives understanding and wisdom to the heart?

These thoughts prompted me to study the scriptures (I'm still studying) and stumbled across a man who was leprous for about thirty-eight (38) years. This man was sitting by a pool called "Bethesda" where all who had one disease or the other were lying. What where they waiting for? The troubled water! They waited patiently for an angel to trouble the water that was supposed to be an epitome of grace; I thought the angels were supposed to be carriers of peace! But they needed to trouble the water for the afflicted to be made whole. What an irony!

Jesus Christ the master also had similar encounter. After a wonderful all night prayer, he chose the twelve (12) disciples. I also discovered that Judas was among them, He chose Judas, though he knew that Judas was a thief, a symbol of storm. Almost every Christian is against Judas for betraying Jesus but forgotten that the death of Jesus brought about the salvation of Christians today.

A kid asked me this question; "If God loves us, why did he allow the devil live after sin was found in him knowing fully that he can't repent?" Although I couldn't answer him in totality, but I think we need Satan the devil to serve God properly. Opposition makes life all interesting. That's my opinion. Life would have been so boring if not for storms and oppositions that add value to life.

Nobody is free from problems. A problem-free life is an illusion - a mirage in the desert. It is a dangerously deceptive perception that can mislead, blind and distract. To pursue a problem-free life is to run after an illusive fantasy; it is a waste of mental and physical energies. Every living human person has problems that signify troubled water. Remember in the "troubled" water lies your greatness and success.

But take note that: - 
Every problem has a limited life span

1.  Every problem holds positive possibilities

2.  Every problems will change you

3.  Importantly, you can choose what your problem will do to you

4.  There is a negative and positive reaction to every problem

Your passions and storms are a clue to your destiny. Don’t dwell on your impossibilities because if you do, thinking stops, progress is halted, doors slam shut, research comes to a screeching halt. Further experimentation is torpedoed, projects are abandoned, dreams are discarded, the highest and best creative brain cells nose-drive, clam up, hide out, cool down and turn off in some dark, subterranean corner of the mind. In this defensive maneuver, the brain shelters itself against the painful sting of insulting disappointments, brutal rejections and dashed hopes.

But when man sees possibilities out of every storm and shout aloud “it is possible”! Those stirring words with the siren appeal of a marshaling trumpet, penetrate into the subconscious tributaries of the mind, challenging and calling those proud powers to turn on and turn out new ideas. All of sudden, posh! Buried dreams are resurrected. Sparks of fresh enthusiasm flicker then burst into new flames. Tabled motions are brought back to the floor. Dusty files are reopened. Lights go on in the darkened laboratories. Telephones start ringing. Typewriters make clattering music. Budgets are revised and adopted. “Help wanted” signs are hung out. Factories are retooled and reopened. New market products appear. New markets open. The storm is over. A great era of adventure, experimentation, expansion and prosperity is born.

Then I concluded that we all need the troubled water for our wholeness and greatness. But you must realize that the troubled water is that storm in your life. What is the storm? Then the troubled water is near you.

Does that really mean that I am against storm-free living? No! A stress-less, struggle-free life is possible. But one thing we must realize is that, light would have no value or importance without darkness; divine health is not valid not until sickness is rampant. Yeah! For gold to be glittering, it has to be subjected to furnace so is any man that will be great.


Nothing just happens by fate, things happen as a result of the following reasons: 

1. God influences, leads and directs us

2. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy

3.  Other people make decisions and actions that affect us

4.  We make decisions and carry out those decisions

5.  Natural, physical incidents in the world impact us.

Kudos to God ALmighty and Phase2Faith for inspiration. To be continued........

Article by Joseph Otemeh Raphael
JoRaphworld 2002

It is the bomb. watch out for it!