Better Than Before!

Not too long ago I wrote about New Jersey’s post-Sandy campaign slogan, “Stronger Than the Storm.”  Well recently, New York State came out with its own post-Sandy slogan, “Better Than Before.”  (I can’t help but notice that both make use of alliteration to make the words memorable!)  New York’s slogan is meant to encourage and entice tourists and businesses to come back to New York by saying that what is being built during the current post-Sandy rebuilding process is going to be stronger and better, more durable as well as more enjoyable, than what was destroyed by the hurricane. In the end, New York will be better off in spite of and even because of hurricane Sandy. 

Although none of us likes to go through the “hurricanes” of life, it is true that many times, after having gone through them, we come out “better than before.”  The storms of life have a way of helping us get rid of those things within us that ought not be there and make room for that which needs to be built within our lives.  Although difficulties can be quite painful and the rebuilding process hard, in the end character and strength, right priorities, and a new perspective on life seem to take root within us. Most of all, our faith can be strengthened. After the storm, we can be “better than before.” 

The Bible says, “…we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4 - NIV) and, “… the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4 – NIV) It is because of the positive outcomes that suffering and difficulty can bring about within our lives, the Bible says, “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of any kind.” (James 1:2 – NIV)  

I am reminded today that, God is able to take the negative situations of our lives, all the difficulties and pain that we face, and use them for good. He is able to work in them and through them so that we might be “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” But, we must trust him with our lives. We must continue to hold onto him, believing that he is more than able to use for good that which we thought was for evil.  We must continue to believe that, he is at work in and through the storms of our lives, working to make us “better than before.” 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  (2 Corinthians 4:17 – NIV)

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris

www.pifny.org