Is The Storm Just?

I've been told recently, as I've been in the midst of a storm raging around me and my family, that the storm is God's judgment. That the storm rages because of my sin. But is the storm always the justice of God? Has there ever been a time when someone has gone through hardships or trials that were not the direct result of God's judgment or wrath?

I think about Job, who even though no sin merited the onslaught of "apparent" judgment the storm raged. Job's friends tried to convince him that he was in sin. That all he need do was repent, and the storm would relent. But Job could not repent, for he was not in error. The storm was not God's judgment on Job. Sure it appeared as such, but maybe we passed judgment on poor Job too soon. After all, have you read to the end of Job, where everything he lost was restored to him tenfold by the Lord himself? Maybe the storm was not just?

I think back to Joseph who embraced a dream from the Lord and then endured a terrible and violent storm. He was betrayed, beaten, and sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood. He appeared to rise above his defeat when he became the head of Potipher's entire house, only to be unjustly accused and thrown into prison. It was many long years before he was able to escape the prison, to see his dream actually realized. And it was the Lord who lifted him up! Maybe the storm was not God's judgment, but God's redemption for a people?

I remember David who humbly accepted the anointing to be Israel's next king, and spent years hiding from the wrath of King Saul who desired his death. David spent years living in caves, dodging spears in an attempt to spare his own life. When faced with the temptation of ending the life of his foe, he chose to trust in God to deliver. Perhaps the storm was not just, but rather training for a king?

I remember two sisters who asked Jesus to intervene in the life of their brother who was deathly sick. Jesus response was delayed to put it politely. So delayed, that the brother died and was buried. The storm had apparently won. It had taken the life of the loved one. But, in the end Jesus gave these sisters a better gift then simply healing their sick brother. He gave them the opportunity to see the Resurrection and Life that was Himself. Perhaps the storm was not God's justice, but rather a precious gift of life?

So the question begs to be answered. Is the storm always just? Perhaps not. Perhaps God allows the storm so He can better reveal His glory. After all, it is not our comfort that He is after. He is after our sanctification and the glory of His name!