TO STAND IN THE STORM

+ BY KEVIN CASTLE

there was an experiment done in the early 1980’s with a goal to create the perfect living conditions for humans, plants, and animals. In the middle of a desert, they built a big dome that was protected from all the elements. The water and air were purified, the light was filtered, and everything was artificially enhanced. Humans and animals thrived in this environment for months at a time, but there was one problem—they couldn’t grow trees. Every time a tree would get to a certain height, it would topple over. Nobody initially could figure out why this happened, and then one day someone came to this conclusion— trees need wind to blow against them, for without it, they will never develop the root system that holds them in place.

For many people, this year has been an enormous storm where they have lost their hope. You can see it in their faces and actions. Most have a longing for human connection and many still are trying to find meaning in the middle of this chaos. We all wish to see better days, and whether you are steadfast in your faith, unsure of where you stand, or even if you're a devout atheist who for some reason is reading this very article, rest assured it has rained on us all.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:45, "...For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." All throughout history, there are metaphorical storms, times when life is upended and everything is thrown into chaos. Every hero in the Bible has their storms and fortunately, we get to see the end of those stories. We know that most of them survived and went on to happy lives and we use these stories to give ourselves a glimmer of hope, that our better tomorrow is just a day away. But of course, it’s easy to get through the storm when you know where the end is.

At the beginning of the book of Daniel, Israel is captured by the Babylonians and their captivity lasts for 70 years. This captivity is God's response to Israel's pagan worship practices, that the Jewish people were like an unfaithful bride and that God's judgment was inevitable. The Babylonian leader, Nebuchadnezzar II, was a ruthless king, the longest-reigning and most powerful monarch in the Neo-Babylonian Empire. So great and terrible was his reign, that Jeremiah 4:7 called him a "destroyer of nations" and begged people to flee for their lives. Leaving nothing in his wake, Nebuchadnezzar II set out to lay waste to Jerusalem and leave it uninhabitable, and he accomplished it.

Daniel and his friends were captured, but God's favor was on them and they were allowed to be taken to Babylon to be trained in Babylonian wisdom. There they refused food and wine from the king, lest they become unclean according to Jewish law. It was common to eat pig and horse meat in Babylon which was forbidden by Jewish law, and it was also common for Babylonians to offer meat and wine to their gods; something Daniel and his friends would never participate in. Because of their faithfulness, they were given godly knowledge and insight into visions and dreams. By the end of their training, they proved to be ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the kingdom.

Eventually, they are all given high offices in the court of Babylon and Daniel's enemies trick the king into forbidding worship of any other god or man besides the king himself for 30 days in order to get rid of Daniel. Of course, Daniel refuses and openly prays to God. Thus, the king is forced to throw Daniel in the lion's den, God sends an angel to save Daniel, his accusers are destroyed, and Daniel is restored to his position.

In the records of human history, it is clear that during this time the Jewish people were oppressed. Jerusalem had been ransacked and its people were captive. They had lost everything, were exiled from their homes, and were forced to work as slaves in a foreign country. Yet one message rings louder than all the others, one message that we can take with us in this storm we find ourselves in: just as God saved Daniel and his friends from their enemies and from their circumstances, so too can God save you from yours.

The year 2020 is not the America that people remember. In fact, it's unrecognizable from the country that existed not even 20 years ago. Many people are wondering where did we go wrong? As a nation, as the Church, did we miss a turn, a detour, a giant miraculous sign, a man shouting in the wilderness? But all these questions are missing the point. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past, because today God is simply asking us to stand.

Yes, it’s crazy right now. Yes, your

"We can't change 2020 and its multitude of issues, but we can change how we respond to it. God's depending on us to bring His love to a broken world."

fear and anxiety might be at an all time high. Yes, you might have suffered losses this year. These are all silver linings to the dark storm that is this year. We need the storms of life to grow strong, to build deep roots, to stand tall against the even bigger spiritual threats against this world.

If we had perfect lives, we wouldn’t need God. Prayer is not a vending machine, and just because God doesn’t want us to suffer doesn’t mean we won’t have trials and hardships. In fact, God has used this year to do incredible things. God never promised us a problem-free life. He will never take us out of the storms, but instead He leads us right through them. You may feel like you’re alone in the boat, and the waves of life are crashing in on every side of you, but just like in Mark 4:38, “Jesus is inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow.” He’s not even worried about your circumstances because He knows you’ll make it to the other side if you trust Him.

My friends, all we need to do is stand. The storms of life will rage regardless of our actions. The wind will howl and the rain will pour no matter what we do. The sun could turn to darkness and the moon blood red and the answer would remain the same. As the chosen, as the warriors of God, as the bride of Christ, all we have to do is take a stand.

Right now, millions of Christians around the world gather in secret. They hide in houses and in underground rooms, not because they want to but because they have to. They gather in places like Iran and China, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. They gather where they are hunted, where it's illegal to own a Bible, to even pray and worship the one true God. And if they are caught, they face imprisonment at best, and at worst, their faith costs them their lives. Yet they gather willingly, knowing that the God who saved Daniel can equally save them. They stare death in the face daily and say, "Do your worst," knowing full well that they have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and their reward is eternal salvation.

Yet, the Church in America cowers in fear. We let culture dictate our practices and our government dictate our rules. Gone are the days where the Church was the center of innovation, the center of care and love, the center of art and commerce. Hospitals and Colleges, institutions that were once created to give glory to God, have been taken over by pagan practices and cultural mandates. Our churches are filled with people who value ease and comfort over sacrifice and taking up our crosses. We can blame no one but ourselves for this year, for we let it happen. This hollow shell of America is the one that we have sowed and reaped.

But that means we have the power to change it. Yes—God is not done with us, yet. He is looking for those of us who will carry our cross, who will rise up and take up His cause. Like Daniel's story, God is willing to stand in the gap for us. He will shut the mouths of those that try to devour us. He will deliver us if we turn back to Him. Yes, it has rained on the just and the unjust this year, but it is also that rain that can grow the seeds of a new day for the Western Church, a new day for God's bride. We can reclaim this country, this hemisphere, and we can rebuild what has been lost and destroyed. God has a plan for His people, He always does, and as long as we keep our eyes on Him, like Daniel, we can survive the “lion's den.”

We can't change 2020 and it's multitude of issues, but we can change how we respond to it. God is relying on us to bring His love to a broken world, to stand in the gap with Him. It was His mandate for us 2000 years ago when He told us to go into the world and preach the gospel to all nations, and it's still His mandate today. Let us not focus on who's right or wrong, who's Democrat or Republican, who's conservative or liberal or independent, but let us instead focus on how we can love and help each other. Let us repent of our pride, turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves and turn to God, for in doing so, just like He promises in 2 Chronicles 7:14, He will hear our prayers and He will heal our land.