“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
~John 16:33
Storms of life can be many different challenges or difficulties. It could be illness, loss, financial strain, relationships, jobs, or a myriad of other things. There are equally many intensities of storms: gentle rain, hurricanes, hailstorms, fire storms, tsunamis, snowstorms, and windstorms.
Most of us love a gentle rainstorm snuggled under a blanket with a good book, but a hurricane can present devastating destruction. I am of the belief that even though storms can be brutal and leave us bruised, they also can draw us nearer to Christ and teach us great lessons.
10 things Storms teach us:
- Hardship has a way of revealing toxic thoughts and attitudes that need to be called into action. For example: People who relish in an expensive gorgeous home but their family and pets survive a tornado, but the house is demolished learn to value life rather than things.
- Isaiah 43:2-3a “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (NLT)
- Teaches us what’s valuable: When we had to evacuate from the fires, and had 10 minutes to gather things and leave, it was an important lesson in what was valuable to save or let burn. The threat of fire realigned our values. It was also interesting to see what each person in the family thought important enough to save.
- Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (NIV)
- Rest. Sometimes a storm forces a resting time. I love rainy days that say stay inside. Or an unexpected snow day! Even the loss of power due to a storm may quiet our lives by shutting down electronic distractions that often demand our attention. Those are the days that a soup cooked on a woodstove, a blanket and a comfy chair can calm the inner storms we don’t even recognize may be draining us.
- Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV)
- Refinement: Health storms, and financial storms teach us to re-evaluate our lives, placing what’s vital as a priority. At times, just the mere living of day-to-day life can flip priorities out of line. For example: We rush to not be late and speed down the road forgetting that getting to our destination dead isn’t a good strategy!
- James 1:3-4 (KJV) “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect, wanting nothing.”
- Run! Maybe your storm is a red flag to indicate a change of direction, get away, stop what you’re doing, make a break from whatever it is!
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from every form of evil.” (ESV)
- Proof. Squalls in life are doable for tough people, but blizzards, typhoons, and eruptions are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his authority, protection, power and unconditional love for us when nothing else can. I actually think God relishes the opportunities to be the only solution to our crisis. It demonstrates that if our anchor is in Christ, that it will hold.
- Isaiah 43:2-3a When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
- Isaiah 43:2-3a When you pass through the waters,
- Survival: Sometimes going through difficult storms in our lives is simply a spiritual muscle building process. There’s lesson to be learned that draw us to be more Christ-like in service and ministry. For these times we need to learn the lesson and then look around to see who we can share it with—who needs what we’ve learned.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
- Narrow our focus: Sometimes we can get ahead of ourselves. This is why often God does not show us the entire direction of our lives, but rather shows us just enough ahead of us to make things doable. He knows we can always handle the entire landscape or the whole mountain, so instead He allows us to see a few steps ahead of us or just a peaceful section of the path. One step at a time wins the race.
- Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
- Defines your relationships: Who has your back and who is either just an acquaintance or are they someone who will sabotage you? It helps you to know if you are a mentor or a friendship that is on a level playing ground. It doesn’t mean we don’t mentor, but it helps to know who you can rely on, who you need to take under your wing and who you can go to battle with and they’ll have your back at any cost.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
- Realigns our Pride: Sometimes being knocked down a peg or two within our ego can greatly benefit how we see ourselves, the world and our ministry. Perhaps some ego banging can fertilize the way for realigning our humility.
- Romans 12:16 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”
What’s your storm? And what is it teaching you?
All of us at one time or another will find ourselves amidst the storm. God is not absent. He is not blind. He sees what we’re going through and will be there in the storm. God never leaves us when it’s stormy, His promise in Isaiah 43:2 says, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” And in Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.”
