Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – Each of us faces storms in life, whether a tropical depression or a super typhoon, and we all need a way through!
No one can avoid the storms of life: illness, job loss, the death of a loved one or family breakdown. In those times, what we need is not just endurance, but solid truths to hold on to. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
Recently my family and I had dinner at a very popular tourist restaurant known for its wild, jungle-like atmosphere. The music never stopped, filled with animal sounds, including epic thunderstorms with crashing thunder and flashing lightning.
I noticed a little girl, about six or seven, with a terrified face. At the first round of thunder in our two hours there, she crawled under the table and clung to her father’s legs. Tears streamed down her little angelic face. I had to look away.
But even when I looked away, I kept an eye on her to see whether she was still afraid after each storm passed. I remember wishing I could either make the storm pass quickly or take away her fear. And I only felt relief, like her, when the thunder faded and was replaced by screeching monkeys, or something like that. Then she climbed back into her seat.
Until…
Another storm boomed through the speakers in the dark, noisy restaurant. The girl scrambled under the table, hugged her father’s legs and waited to see whether more storms would come.
But something interesting happened during the fifth storm. She still slid under the table and crawled to hug her father’s legs, but this time she was not afraid. She sat quietly and calmly. She didn’t cry; her face looked brave. I think she knew this storm would pass like the ones before. She trusted that her father was right there, and soon she would be able to come out of the darkness and return to her seat at the table.
Each of us faces storms in life, sometimes a tropical depression and sometimes a super typhoon. If you are standing in the middle of a “storm” right now, I hope these three truths help you find peace, “hold tight” to them and wait for the storm to pass.
Truth 1: Faith and Patience Go Together
I don’t think any of us like hardship. Sometimes trials, or “storms,” last too long. We all know there is a shortcut, a faster, shorter path to the other side of the storm, but God chooses to lead us a different way.
Several times in my life, God has kept me in a place longer than I expected. He arranged and completely changed events that should have taken a few days, delaying them for weeks or even months. His detour made me face the difficulty longer than I hoped. I noticed I kept saying things like, “If only You had…” and “I wish You would…” Have you experienced this too?
God’s timing is not like ours. God sees the whole picture, while we see only a tiny part. When God places us in hard places instead of rescuing us right away, I believe it is how He wants us to mature and learn to rely on Him more, to mold and shape us into His image. Storms teach us patience. They make us stronger in faith, more dependent and more sensitive to God’s call.
“But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
However fierce the storm and however heavy and tired our little wings feel, be patient and trust. God loves you and cares for you. Cast off your worry and rest in Him, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:3).
Truth 2: Something Is Happening Behind the Storm
We often ask why, and when it will end. And in the middle of a storm, we rarely see its meaning or why it had to happen. That is simply how we are as humans.
Isaiah 55:8 tells us:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)
As mere humans, we will never fully know why God works the way He does in each life, or why He chooses a different storm for each of us.
We don’t need to know all the answers. We only need to trust God completely.
What we can be sure of is that however long the storm lasts or however hard the experience, God is always working behind it, even when it feels like nothing is happening. And He never forgets or abandons us. God loves us and cares about every complexity and nuance of our lives. Even when it is not easy, or more painful than you imagined, “we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).
Truth 3: God Is Faithful, and He Will Deliver You Again
I don’t know whether it is because we live in a fast-paced culture or because we are forgetful, but I have never made a real effort to remember the times God brought me through storms.
Have you ever told yourself in the moment that you would never forget God’s help, and then later did you remember? I have to admit that sometimes I forget what God has done for me in the past.
Recently, though, I have tried to remember by reading old journals and love letters I wrote to Him. I find that when I reread God’s kindnesses in my life, I am comforted and relieved. I am reminded of His faithfulness and His promises to me.
Remembering times when God’s presence was so clear in my life, when things impossible for man were easy for God, is wonderful. My faith is refreshed and my soul is at rest.
Dear friends, if God has brought us through one storm, He will help us through the other storms of life, because He is faithful. As Christians, we are confident that God is with us in every way. When we face storms, I hope these truths help you rest, like holding tight to your heavenly Father’s legs, head held high with courage, waiting for the storm to pass.
Standing Firm in the Storm
The disciples were once terrified in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, but Jesus was right there in the boat with them. The storm may be great, but the One with us is greater.
If you are in the middle of a storm, don’t isolate yourself. Share with your church so others can pray for and support you. And when the storm passes, write down what God has done, so next time you remember that He is faithful.
You may also like: 26 Encouraging Bible Verses and When I Am Afraid.
Prayer
Lord, You know the storms we are facing. Give us patience in faith, help us trust that You are at work, and remind us that You faithfully deliver us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Translation Team – Communications Ministry, Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church
Adapted from: Crosswalk.com
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