Since this account is going to continue for the next couple of days, let’s just focus on the first question asked by Jesus’ disciples.  They saw a man born blind and asked if the blindness was a consequence of his sin or of his parent’s.  Jesus’ answer was that the blindness was given to the man so that God could show his mighty works!

So often when storms come in our lives we can be tempted to think that God is punishing us for something we have done.  But this is not possible!  Jesus took all of our punishment on the cross!

Here are three possible reasons for storms in our lives:
1. Discipline (Nehemiah 9:26-27): Discipline is very different from punishment.  Discipline is always for the purpose of training and growth.  It is never for the sole purpose of retribution or final judgment.  God chastens those whom he loves and he uses storms sometimes to help us to see sins in our lives that are keeping us from living with true joy and obedience to him.
2.  Faithfulness (Job 1:8-22):  God allowed storms in Job’s life to display his servant’s faithfulness and to grow and increase it in Job’s life.  This testimony of faithfulness in Job’s life was a testimony to God’s greatness and glorified him.
3.  Patience (Romans 5:3):  God can use storms in our lives to help us to learn patience, along with many other virtues.

This list is not exhaustive, but hopefully will give some ideas for why God would allow a storm to come.  It is not ever because of punishment…but we should be careful to ask ourselves when storms do come, “God, is there any sin in my life that I need to confess and forsake?”  Sometime there will be…sometimes there won’t.  But, we can always be sure that whatever storm comes our way, it will be for our good and ultimately for the glory of our great God!