I was watching the trees sway and bend during the high winds, waiting for one to snap or break. I thought about my life and those around me that have a lot going on. I thought about watching the beautiful, huge palm trees in South Africa during high winds. They were made to weather strong storms. The leaves fold in during a storm, preventing the wind from pulling it out by the canopy. It can take a lot of opposing force and remain standing after the storm. It can bend and not break.
God has designed His people, those rooted in Him, to take a lot during the storms of life. Every year we face new seasons, changes, people change, new opportunities, some good things and some difficult things. Some things seem too overwhelming and seem to be more than we can bear. During these times we must trust God. Proverbs 3: 5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."
I cannot remember a tough time that God wasted. He has always brought good from the bad. Sometimes it took years for me to see - sometimes it was immediate. I always grow from these tough times. Romans 8: 28, "And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those of love Him and are called according to His purpose." I love this quote, "I won't give you more, More then you can take, And I might let you bend, But I won't let you break." As we mature in our Christian journey, we are able to prepare for a storm and we know storms will come.