Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president

Have you heard the story of a farmer seeking a new farmhand?

The story goes that a farmer was looking to hire help and interviewed a man about his qualifications. The man replied, “I can sleep through a storm.” The farmer wasn’t sure what that meant but decided to hire him anyway.

The man worked hard, and the farmer grew to appreciate his new helper. Then one night, a terrible storm rolled in. The farmer and his wife leaped out of bed and ran to wake the farmhand — but he was sleeping soundly. In a panic, they rushed around the farm, checking to make sure everything was secure.

To their relief, the shutters on the farmhouse were fastened, there was plenty of wood stacked by the fireplace, the tools were put away in the shed, the hay was safe and dry, and the barn doors were shut tight. It was then they understood what the man had meant: when you’ve done what needs to be done, you can sleep through the storm.

We are living in troubled times.

Storms are brewing all over the world — and even within our families and communities. We need to be aware of these storms, yet we must also be secure in our relationship with Jesus so we can weather them in peace with God.

First Thessalonians 5 talks about the Lord coming “as a thief in the night.” But there is a promise in verse 4:

In other words, those who know Christ understand the storm is coming — but they can rest in Jesus during the storm because they are sons and daughters of the light.

Let us be thankful that even in the storms of life, we can be secure in Jesus. Most of all, let us invite others into that same secure relationship with God