Romans 5:3 And hope doesn't disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
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Read Romans 5:1-8
 
We can't always see through the clouds in our lives. Sometimes there is only the threat of a storm. And some
times, the storm is visible coming at us like a tornado. Preparing for the storm will mean shoring up our beaches,
boarding up the windows that let in the fears of what might be. Supplying our house with staples so that we won't go
hungry.
 
We also need to prepare our spiritual house by stocking up on the promises of the Lord, filling our hearts and minds with His word.  We need to remind ourselves of what He has already done in our lives and what He has promised to do. Reinforce the words He has given us by rereading what He has to say about the storms in our lives.
 
Psalms is a great place to start.  It is a banqueting table of reassurances.  It is a place to feast on the abundance of
God's grace and mercy.   When David felt overwhelmed
by his enemies, he ran to the Lord. He poured out his heart to the Creator of the universe. Whether David had sinned
or was being pursued by Saul, he always sought the Lord. He was called a man after God's own heart because David's
heart was tied tightly to God's heart.
 
Even in the midst of the most frightful storm, the Lord will supply all of your needs and sometimes needs you didn't know you have.   Hold on tightly to your hope in Christ. He is holding on tightly to you.

Hebrews 6:19-20a  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind
the curtain, where Jesus, Who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
 
Read Hebrews 6:16-20
 
When the waves and storms and challenges of our lives seem to want to swamp us, we need look no further than to the One Who has promised to never leave us or forsake us as long as we seek Him and His will in our lives.
  
The disciples learned to trust in the promises of Jesus even after He was killed. They thought the ministry that He had promised had come to an untimely end. They returned to their former lives, supposedly defeated and without a future.
 
But the Lord had promised to return and return He did. He fulfilled all that He had promised and more. What the  apostles received was far beyond their greatest dreams.
  
We see our dreams shattered, our families fractured and disease prevail.  We look up to the Lord and cry out in pain, "Where are You? Why have You forgotten us?" We look out around and feel deserted. We can't see or feel Him
anymore.
  
That is when we need to hold tightly to the anchor that is Jesus. We can't see the anchor beneath the waves but we know it is there. Our ship is held firm by what we can't see. We hope in the solid anchor that steadies us in the storm.
  
We can't see the causes of the storm that is raging around us, nor can we see the battle between the enemy of our soul
and the Savior of our soul. Whether the causes are self imposed or the enemy is, like Job, taunting and tempting us, we know that our Anchor will not allow us to drift alone. He is our rudder and our anchor throughout the storm. He has
paid too high a price to let us be destroyed by the storms that buffet us.
  
Hold fast to that anchor and watch for the calming of the crashing waves around your life. They may end suddenly or they may slowly dissipate like a hurricane. But our Redeemer has promised a harbor of safety and a City of Refuge. And we know, without doubt, God cannot lie like man can lie. (verse 18)

 
Moses was 120 years old when he went up to the mountain to die. He ministered until the day of his death. Many of us claim we can no longer serve the Lord because of our age
or our health, etc. The Lord never put a time limit on our service. Paul served even as he was lead to his death. Most of the apostles served and witnessed to their last breath, sometimes from the cross.
 
Timothy was urged by Paul not to let others look down on him due to his age. Timothy was much younger than most of the other church leaders but he learned at the feet of Paul. He also served with Paul even enduring some of the same abuse as Paul.
 
Through it all, he continued to lift up the name of Jesus. He lead a prosperous and deeply committed body of Christ. He had the same type of believers as we do in our churches and yet, he was able to lead by example as well as leading by not compromising his beliefs and his faith in Christ.
 
Our age is not a determining factor in our value to the Lord. Whether young, old or somewhere in between, the Lord has a place and an assignment for us to fulfill. Witnessing in first grade may lead the teacher to the Lord. Sharing our lives in Christ from a hospital bed as we are contemplating our last days can lead hospital workers to seek the Lord. Living a life of servant leadership in our jobs, our schools or in our homes is one of the ways we can share our faith.
 
Whatever our age or health or situation, we can offer a balm of Gilead to a hurting world.  A gentle word, a helping hand, a caring touch can be just what the Doctor of the universe orders.
 
Don't let age or inexperience or fear stand in the way of sharing our Best Friend with those that share our lives. If we had a miracle cure, we would want to share it. We have a miracle worker Who has given His all for us. We just need to let the world know how much love He has for them. It may make all the difference in their eternity.