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Sally woke early in the morning; the cruel winter storms were over, she was eager to go outside. She had the eternal optimism of many ten-year-old girls; however life was tough in the Panhandle during the Great Depression. Hopefully things were turning around.
She had finished her morning chores. Her dad was headed for the house when he heard the roaring sound. One glance at the horizon and you could see the ugly dark cloud. “Sally run get a bucket of water!” her dad shouted. Inside her mom started pulling the blankets out of the closet. The routine was all too familiar.
The animals were herded into the barn. Handkerchiefs were dipped into the water to use as facemasks. Blankets were stuffed under the doors. Howling winds would form a cloud, which could be two miles high. Winds often reached fifty miles an hour. When the storm was over everything was covered with dust.
Everything had a gritty touch, everything. There was no escape from the dust. The food tasted gritty. Dust crept into the houses. Many gave up hope and left for California to join the migration that John Steinbeck wrote about in his novel The Grapes of Wrath.
The panhandle area of Texas was almost blown away. One storm lasted for three and a half days. Another time the area was totally black for eleven hours. Droughts, high winds, and poor planting methods caused the dust storms. Like the ones, which survived the dust storms, we survive our own spiritual dust storms.
We all go through spiritual droughts from time to time, struggling through each church service. We yawn through the song service. The preacher sounds like the schoolteacher in the Peanuts cartoon. Our prayers seem to bounce of the ceiling. We just can’t wait to get home.
Then as we go through the week, it doesn’t get any better. The Bible becomes a blur. Prayers are only said at mealtime. However if we have our roots deep in the Bible to begin with, God will show us how to overcome these droughts.
Not only do we have to deal with droughts, we also have to deal with the storms of life. Maybe a sudden gust of an unexpected illness, or maybe the strong steady wind of a prolonged sickness comes our way. Once again if we are rooted in the Word we can survive.
Problems appear when we use poor planting methods. When we take the Bible lightly or fall for the latest spiritual fad. Then when we face the harsh reality of life we lose our bearing. We stumble and fall. Instead of our yoke being easy and light, it is just a burden.
What should we do? Pick ourselves up and ask God for help. We depend upon the Bible. We shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to others. That’s what friends are for. With God’s help the rains will come again. The high winds will turn into a gentle breeze and like the psalmist wrote in chapter one we can become like a tree planted by the waters.
Servings From God’s Chuck Wagon: Ephesians 3:17-19
17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Campfire Meditations: Think about the times in the past God has carried you through some difficult times.
Godly Spurs: Keep spending time in God’s Word.
Copyright 2004 by Danny Woodall
