When you live in the south you are very aware of when hurricane season starts, what the predictions are for storms and when there are hurricane threats in your area. We all have seen the devastation that a hurricane can cause even if you haven't experienced one. It can be catastrophic such as hurricane Katrina or Andrew. The storm is characterized by a low pressure center and obvious rotation around that center. Weather forcasters know that when the barometric pressure drops rapidly in a certain area the potential for a storm is heightened. It's interesting that when these storms approach or over time they have a tendancy to build and get more destructive. We have hurricane watches, warnings, and evacuations as these storms approach. People who are watching for these storms are well informed and keep a close eye on the storms path and when the watch becomes a warning they are quick to get to a safe place out of danger because they know if they wait to long it may be too late. When the evacuations are announced those who were watching the storm have already found a safe haven but then we have those who think it will be fine. We'll hunker down and wait for the storm to pass. I love the phrase "ride out the storm". Not because it sounds cool but because of the picture it forms in my head of me in a horrific storm, isolated from getting any help and completely at the mercy of the storm. You have absolutely no control after it starts and you don't know how long it will last or how bad it will get all you can do is try and hold on and hope it ends soon. One of the worst things that happens is when someone makes it through a storm and when the next one approaches they try to ride it out again. The problem here is your odds of making it through the next storm just went way down and you created a habit of thinking things will be ok it's just like the last storm and the storm before that. Then in the blink of an eye the takes you and there are no more chances or time to make changes. It's all over.
In our marriages and relationships we can be aware, alert, and watching for potential trouble. Keep communicating regularly. That means weekly. Have healthy interactions with each other. This means date night and building each other up so when the storm does approach you see it early and immediately spring into action and work on a resolution.
Then we have Mr. and Mrs. RIDEOUT THESTORM they are just waiting for impending disaster. They are the couple who doesn't acknowledge the storm at first, but then it gets bigger and bigger and bigger until its gone off the chart in destructive power because they never bothered to acknowledge the problem and find a solution they are both left devasted in the wake of that final storm that took their relationship and their love for each other away.
My plea to you is if you have unresolved issues in your relationship you need to talk about them. This also involves listening on both sides. Here each other out and seek the best possible solution for the relationship. Seek God's word for answers to what ever problem you may be having or you can email me and I'll be glad to help in anyway I can. Romans 12:9-10 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
