©2001 Charles Darby

As most of you know I became a Christian the last day of January 1970. (See my testimony) Shortly after this I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I was told now I had all God had to offer me. Just hold on till I died or till Jesus came.

This is not true. The Lord has more for us than any have seen. When we are
born-again it is just a beginning of a living relationship with our Lord. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit it is a beginning, not some zenith we have reached.

Much growth needs to take place in all our lives. All spiritual growth does not
take place in church or in Bible study, etc. Real spiritual growth happens in
fellowship with our Lord. The Holy Spirit came in as a guide and teacher. If we had all we needed, why would we need a guide or teacher?

After I had read the Bible through several times, been through 3 years of Bible study, and been teaching for a few years, I had a dream one night. I dreamed I was in a big parking lot and it was a holiday as no cars were in the lot but my own. I could see the sky all around and every direction I looked there was a funnel cloud approaching. I knew there was no way I could avoid them. I woke very frightened.

I knew this was no ordinary dream so I prayed and asked the Lord what did it
mean? He told me "son all these storms will happen in your life one after the
other but they are not to defeat you but rather to establish you".

Can I tell you I thought I was already established? After all I knew the Bible, I am saved and filled with The Holy Spirit. How could I not be established? I also knew that what the Lord had said was true and was going to happen!

For several months we (Datha and myself) had storm after storm come to our
life. We would no sooner get past one till another would take place. I cannot tell you all that happened. We were sorely tested and tried. After several months I had another dream and this time I saw only one storm approaching. I again prayed and asked the Lord what this meant. He said "this will happen and will be the last one for a while."

While these storms were taking place, it seemed as if the Lord was not around. The enemy told me God had left me, that I had not been faithful. He fed all kinds of doubt and fear to my mind. I refused to listen to this and refused his lies. I told the devil to get away from me that I belonged to God. I took hold of what the Lord said and believed He was establishing me. (I am only telling you this in the hope it will help you to better understand times of testing. If I thought it would cause you to think highly of me I would not say it.)

He did!!!  When the storms were passed I had a faith that passes any thing I had before. Before I had a tendency to live by feelings. If I felt good I praised the Lord. If I could feel His presence I rejoiced. I believe you get the idea, I was feeling oriented.

Now I praise the Lord if I feel like it and if I don't! If things go to suit me I praise THE Lord and if they don't! I do not live by feeling. I live by faith. That is not a verse to quote but rather a statement of living fact! God is God all the time regardless of how I feel. He is always with us and is always worthy of all Praise and Glory and Honor! Glory be unto God.

Let us learn through all trials and storms to praise our Lord and remain faithful.

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