I grew up in Oklahoma when severe weather is common from early spring through the end of summer. I recall one evening when the sky boiled with dark clouds, the TV weather forecaster warned of an approaching tornado, and the electricity went out. Very quickly, my parents, my sister, and I climbed down the wooden ladder into the storm cellar behind our house where we stayed until the storm passed by. Today, "storm chasing" has become a hobby for many people and a profitable business for others. The goal is to get as close as possible to a tornado without being harmed. Many storm chasers are skilled forecasters with accurate information, but I won't sign up for a tornado tour anytime soon.
In moral and spiritual areas of my life, however, I can foolishly pursue dangerous things God tells me to avoid because of His love for me, all the time believing I won't be harmed. A wiser approach is to read the book of Proverbs, which contains many positive ways to elude these snares of life. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding", Solomon wrote. "In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6). Our Lord is the master of the adventure of living, and following His wisdom leads us to the fullness of life. Every temptation is an occasion to trust God.
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