SUMMER TIME

Where I came from, topographically has two seasons, the wet seasons and the dry seasons. These two seasons extremely strikes the place, sometimes drought happens during dry season and thyphoons comes along the way during wet days. Every summer, people tends to be busy coping up with the extreme temperature that heat up the place, busy planning going for outing to wishing to splash in the coldness of water from pools, rivers and seas. People are planning going outside of the country where temperature is less. People tends to forget that there will be a next season that needs to be prepared with. 

Isn't it important during summer where the weather is calm, we need to stock up on supplies of batteries, water, canned goods, and other necessities preparing for the next turn of the season? Isn't it much better if we make sure to keep our tree limbs trimmed, map out where we will go in the case of an evacuation when strong storm strikes our place? For many who lives near the coast though, we can get lax in our preparations. Though the meteorologist warns us every year to be prepared, too often we prefer to wait until there actually is a storm churning out on the horizon.

The Storms of Life It seems like common sense to prepare ahead of time for a thypoon, floods, strong rains, running out of electricity caused by thunder storms and lightnings. How about the storms of life? Should we prepare in advance for periods of trial and suffering?

I believe that it is important to prepare our minds and hearts for the inevitable trials of life. Without a theological foundation in place for how to face such storms, we are at greater risk for being blown over by the fierce winds of suffering when they arrive.

What does it means to have a theological foundation? It means having a theology of suffering: knowing what we believe and why about God, his sovereignty, and the hardships we experience in this world.

What are some theological ways we can prepare for during summer times of life? Here are four simple ways, like gathering for thypoon supplies, that we can prepare for the storms of tomorrow.

1. Study the Word. We need to study what the Bible says about trials and suffering. Why do they exist? How should we respond? How does God use suffering in our lives? We also need to study what Scripture teaches about God, who he is, and his character. It makes a big difference whether we believe God is out to get us or whether we believe that he is holy, righteous, and good in all that he does.
   
2. Affirm God’s sovereignty. What we believe about God’s sovereignty plays a significant role in how we face suffering. Do we believe that he is in absolute control over everything that happens? Do we trust that he will use all things, even our suffering, for our good and his glory? How can we trust in and find hope in his sovereignty?
3. Memorize Scripture. We need to learn and memorize verses that point to the truth about suffering and the trials of life. We can memorize passages on God’s promises toward us, the hope we have in Christ, and how God uses suffering in our lives for our transformation and his glory. 
   
4. Pray. We need to develop an active prayer life. During the calm seasons of life, we need to grow in prayer and learn to turn to God for all things. The more we trust and rely on God in prayer, the more we will utilize prayer during the trials of life. In a crisis, we tend to do things by instinct. Prayer should be instinctual, like breathing.