Advent "Storms"

Every Advent season for several years, now, the Fecher family rotates between three Advent stories to read from each night of the season: Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels, all by Arnold Ytreeide. This has become a favorite tradition. Depending on what's going on in our lives, the message from these stories affects us differently. This year, as we started Bartholomew's Passage, we were all amazed that God, in His Goodness and Wisdom, planned ahead so that we would be reading this particular story THIS season of our lives. I just wanted to share the devotion part from day 2 and I hope this encourages you as it did us:
"Storms come and storms go, but every once in a while comes a storm so big…
Is Bartholomew ready for the storm that has struck? Are we ready for the times that test us, tempt us, rip away the life we know and the ones we love?
We can be. God has promised us all his strength and all his love. He showed us, through Jesus, how to face the most terrible moments in life and still emerge victorious. We can’t do it on our own strength, of course. And we can’t do it by turning to him only when we want something. Se prepare ourselves by purposely building a relationship with him, trying to be the person he wants us to be, doing our best to love others as unselfishly as he loves us.
Building such a relationship with God is not an easy thing to do. But God took the first giant step by sending Jesus to teach us and demonstrate love for us. No, it’s not an easy thing to do, but when we finally decide to let go of our pride and our ego and our selfishness and allow God to teach us how to love, then we are ready for both the wonderful, happy times of life and the terrible storms as well.
‘I will never leave you or forsake you,’ God said. That’s a promise you can count on during the Advent season – and every day for the rest of your life."
God bless all of you this Christmas season! We love you all!
Hugs in Him,
Michelle