In the Midst of the Storms

“What do you cling to in the middle of life storms?” When that bad day becomes a bad week, you can’t even explain how you feel and what you’re going through, but one obvious thing is that things aren’t going well. This blog post will guide you through the kind of mindset to have through it all.

It all starts with God. That is as cliché as this text could begin. But that’s the first truth. We could talk about many things on this topic, from some of the self-inflicted guilt resulting in us moving away from God to flat-out ‘bad luck’ and even accidents. But one constant in the midst of all that is that to overcome them, ‘it all starts with God.’ Instead, we would focus on some hard truths in this blog post we don’t talk about enough.

Colossians 1:16 [NASB]

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

1. Storms are Natural

We need to address our Christian beliefs that we are not meant to experience difficulties. If anything, the challenges are more because we chose Jesus. Hurricanes are natural, typhoons are natural… they are a part of life… but temporary. They don’t last forever.

Similarly, don’t use permanent solutions for temporary storms! If your phone battery dies, you don’t throw it away because it isn’t coming on. You charge it! Using permanent solutions in such times only ends in regret. Understanding this reality first also helps us not be surprised when those storms come because we switch our attention to “God, what is your purpose in all this?”

Romans 8:18 [TPT]

I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us

2. Storms expose what we're built on

This is what our tweet earlier in the week was referring to. You are not remembered by what you avoided but by what you overcame. You know David because he defeated Goliath. You know Moses because he led the Israelites out of Egypt. You know Joseph because of all he went through to become Egypt's Prime Minister.

These men had one thing in common; their foundation was in God! This circles back to the cliché opening… “It all starts with God.” Remember, in the parable of the wise and foolish builders [Matthew 7:24-27], the storm and heavy winds come to both the house built on the sand and the one built on the rock, but only one remained after.

Matthew 7:25 [NASB]

And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

3. In the midst of it all, he would never let us be tested beyond what we can bear

1 Corinthians 10:13 [NASB]

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Remember, God does not tempt us! Being descendants of Adam, we inherited the sinful nature that brings the desires we have. It’s clearly stated in James 1;

JAMES 1:13-15 [AMP]

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). 15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.

4. The storm is a tale of what God thinks about you

It shows what he believes your spiritual maturity to be. It also means if He doesn’t let us be tempted more than we can bear, we can do it. We’ve got what it takes to handle it!

5. The testing of our faith brings perseverance and makes us stronger

JAMES 1:2-4 [TPT]

2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.

So What?

Understanding these hard truths would help you develop the right attitude to your challenges. It helps you mature as a Christian because your focus is now on what God wants to do in the storm. If the storm never came, Jesus would never have walked on water to rescue the disciples, and Peter won’t have developed the faith to walk to Jesus too. And to not make the mistake he did, we have to focus on Jesus the entire time so we experience our faith in his fullness.

We pray that God will continue to teach us and reveal himself more in our trials. Amen!

Keep in Touch!

If the Holy Spirit showed you something, please comment so we can all benefit.

God bless you. Jesus loves you!

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