Faith During Storms of Life
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by Darren Hewer
Please open your Bible and read:
(Mark 4:35 – 41)
Who hasn’t questioned God in the middle of one of life’s storms? The disciples did. “The disciples woke [Jesus] up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’” (Mark 4:38) We’ve all asked that at one time or another. “God, don’t You care?” We know that He does, but sometimes it seems as though He’s distant as we’re battered by raging storms.
{Story} One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, “Mommy, will you stay with me all night?” Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, “I can’t dear. I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.” A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, “The big sissy!” – Source unknown
Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Living in the power of the Holy Spirit
We know that God loves us more deeply than we can ever know. It’s not a question of whether we will be confronted with storms or not, but rather how we must face adversity: As people with hope and faith in an all – powerful God. Jesus never promised that we’d have an easy life, but He did promise that he would be with us “always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
King David prayed this way in thanks to God in spite of all of his troubles:
The Lord is my light and my salvation
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
The one thing I ask of the Lord
the thing I seek most is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
He will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock. (Psalm 27:1,4,5)
If we believe that God is the one “who is, who always was, and who is still to come – the Almighty One.” (Revelation 1:8) ultimately what do we have to fear? We may not be all – knowing like God is, but because of Jesus’ death on the cross for our salvation, we can be assured that no matter what storms we temporarily face, that our place with God in eternity is assured.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Darren Hewer. Read more about him here:
http://www.tmdevotionals.com/men/authors/darren-hewer/
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: Why does God allow storms in our life? Why are we afraid if we believe that God is our light and our salvation? Do we truly believe that the Lord is our fortress, protecting us from danger?
2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional. Visit http://talk.thelife.com/ and double click on “Comment??? (just under the devotional title).
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Related reading: Tears from blind eyes: http://www.retirementwithapurpose.com/relationships/jan_blindeyes.html
Copyright
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15 Responses to “Faith During Storms of Life”
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My Best Friend died on Oct 2 and I realized then how much I depended on my faith in GOD AND JESUS CHRIST to get me throu my grief. In looking back over the past few years when I have had problems,whether it be with my health or my emotions,or what ever, I realize there too how much I depend on my faith and my beliefs to get me throu it all. I still and will alway miss my friend(and my mother who passed away in may/94) but I know they are in a far better place now and out of their pain and misery, and I know that whatever crisis I am going throu I will get throu it WITH GODS/JESUS help. its take me along time to learn to turn everything over to GOD/JESUS but I know it is the only way I can manage to get throu whatever it is that I am going throu at the time.
I would have to to say that I am the same way as Chris. It takes me a while to learn that I can not fix or get through the crisis without God/Jesus. That no matter how big or small the problem is that I may face I always feel a lot better once I have handed it off to GOD and begin to pray about it. I have been going through a lot of different family issues ever since my husbadn and I have gotten married. I can hoenstly say that if it wasnt for GOD being in our marriage, it would have ended in a divorce. We have kept GOD first in our home andat times when we have put him second or third in our lives, our realtionship begins to fall as well. Without GOD/Jesus I would not have gotten through the most trying of times in my life. I know with him by myside all things are possible.
This devotion reminds me of my fav. song, The Anchor Holds. I was a pastors wife for 10 years until my husband at that time had an affair plus so much more I can’t possibly mention. Didn’t think it was possible to go through a bigger story. God however was my anchor in the midst of it all. Yes I am now a single mom raising two children on my own and now working a secular job. God doesn’t say we will never face storms but we can be assured God is forever faithful and will carry us through the midst of it to higher ground.
I just felt compelled to leave a comment after reading today’s email devotional. 1 reason being is because I am learning that faith is like a plant. (It was to be gorwn…You don’t plant a seed and then the next day go look for a plant to be present) Everyone is dealt a measure of faith at salvation but then you have to work your faith. Trials, Tribulation, and life experience pull at you. They pull you, push you to the place that you are supoosed to be in GOD/JESUS. You have to pray and ask GOD/JESUS for eyes to see in the spirit, I am a witness a lot of times we are blind, b/c we are looking at things with our natural eyes therefore we don’t reap the benefits of the sufferings. (We NAG, WINE, WHIMPER and COMPLAIN, but we should endure suffering as a good soldiers. Paul said HE GLORYS IN HIS INFIRMITY THAT THE POWER- of GOD would rest upon him. WE NEED THE POWER OF GOD. That’s why the storms come…..POWER, it’s alone in the name of JESUS. (WORK YOUR FAITH……. LET IT GROW!!!!
Our son is in Iraq right now. We have been through many trials in our life over the past 37 years of marriage but I believe that this is one of the hardest for us. I asked the Lord to build my faith and trust in Him during this time. I chose the verse in Psalm 112:7 I have no fear of bad news; my heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Doesn’t mean that we won’t have bad news but we know that as long as we keep our eyes on Him he will see us through.
I’m thankful for this website and everyone’s comments. My storm lately is my weight. I successfully lost 50 lb. in 2006 and really need to lose another 50 pounds. It’s not that I haven’t accepted myself as a heavier person, it’s that I want to be healthy and live a quality life. My husband too struggles with the same issue, his weight. Thank you for reminding me that my faith during this storm of life will bring me success. Thank you for helping me to cancel out the negative and replace it with the positive … through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Glory to God. God Bless.
I find that I am going through a trying time right now. My dear sister-in-law lost her struggle with lymphoma two weeks ago and I have serious problems of my own. Still, I know that I am a daughter of the King and He will not allow anything to touch me that is not in His plan for me. I cling to that promise. He will be with me in whatever life hands me.
Ann, our prayers are with you that the Lord will continue to give you the daily strength to live day by day sometimes minute by minute while your son and other sons and daughters are in the war. Deanna, my heart really went out to you. I am a Elders wife who have endured much much pain in the way of an affairs. The song is what kepted me in place. To all who are going through storms in your lives, know that he is caring and holding you over the thistles and thorns. The storms will come and keep raging know that the anchor is reassured to pull you out. That anchor is Jesus himself. I pray for every woman and man and every child all over the world and ask the Lord to give them the strenght to endure all that they must. For you will be a witness to have comfort or save one. Everything I have endured mastered me in what i do now. A mother of a church. The storms in my life have been a puzzle and now the pieces are coming together to be an effective witness for someone else. Hold on ladies and let’s see what the end is going to be. The storms were not meant for you but what they mean to someone else.
I really needed to hear this. Right now my storm is my finances. I am trying to be obedient by paying my tithes and it seems as if every type of financial weapon that could possibly come is coming. We are trying to sell our house and at the same time am due in Feb. I pray and pray and sometimes it seems as if nothing is getting better. I know God is carrying us through and I still need to have faith. It does get hard sometimes and want to just break down and cry. Yet I must still praise Him. I really appreciate these devotionals. They always seem to come at the right time.
My problem has been that I have been giving lip service and I was selfish, always worried about me! Giving empty praises and testimonies not REALLy believing that I was going to be all right no matter what. I didn’t realize that life is not about me at all, but about my service to others, living the same kind of sacrificial loving life that Jesus did. I live by the following two scriptures! It is repeated in several scriptures but my favorite in context is Mark 12:30 it says, “Love thy Lord thy God with ALL thy heart…”. So if we love God the way we claim then when we go through changes we won’t be so easily moved and more so than that if we trust the Lord totally, fully and wholly then we know that “All things work out for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). I use my trials and disappointments as an opportunity to get deepen my intimate realtionship with the Lord. During my times of distress I pray more, I read the Word more and I meditate more. This has helped my faith grow tremendously, by the grace of God I have matured spiritually more during my sad times than any other times, so “count it all joy!”. Self-pity and mistrust are the snares of the enemy. We ALL have a purpose and in order to fulfill that assigned purpose then we must continue to seek Jesus’ face and fall deeper in love with Him which in turn deepens and strengthens our trust and my faith!
Put God first and hold on to the promises in his Word and everything will work out because our Lord knows best and he is the best!
Look at it this way:
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Luke 12:25)
I ‘ve just been through a big trial in my life and when i looked back..i realised How GOd want me to go back to His arm …His plan is always higher than ours and HE will never be wrong in His eyes…. Jamiara is right..we need to work on our faith..but not by ourselves but by the blood of JEsus Christ … THe more we rest in His Love..the mORe we experience the real peace and perfect plan HE has for us… THank YOU lord for being our refuge and hard rock…WIth you..we have nothing to scare about..Keep us in ur arm and never leave you… Bless us so that we can be a blessing to the ppl around us..teach us hwo to pray..so that our prayer are from you instead of our own will…MAy our prayer can move you hand to benefit all your children… In jesus’s name i pray..amen…
Sometimes we feel that we are the only ones going through trials. Reading all these comments allows us to come together to lift each one up. No matter how large or small the problem the Lord is there for us. What I may see as a small problem may be a large one for someone else. And mine small compared to another. But they are what are effecting our lives and all are important to our Lord. I want to thank each and everyone of you for opening your hearts and being honest with self, in sharing broken hearts and broken dreams, our fears, and sharing God’s love. And don’t feel like you are the only one that it takes a while to learn the lesson. God’s people went around the same mountain for a good many years because they did not learn. Just learn from their mistake and don’t take as long for yourself.
Thank you all for sharing your hearts.
I AM GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW. DEANNA, HOW DID YOU GET OVER YOUR ANGER, ARE YOU ABLE TO GO TO THE SAME CHURCH? I STARTED ATTENDING AND JOINED A CHURCH WHERE THE MAN I HAVE BEEN SEEING WAS A MEMBER. I AM 39 AND HAD NEVER BEEN SO DRAWN IN AND FELT AT HOME IN A CHURCH BEFORE. I TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL, LEAD AWANAS, DO A LOT OF WORK WITH THE CHILDREN. HE AND I HAD REACHED A PLACE, A JUMPING OFF POINT, I WAS READY FOR A LARGER COMMITTMENT. HE HAD AN AFFAIR WITH A MARRIED WOMAN FROM ANOTHER CHURCH. HE PLAYS THE ORGAN IN OUR CHURCH. HIS CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WITH ME THERE, WHEN WE ARE AT CHURCH. I HAVE ONLY BEEN TWICE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. I HAVE TEMPORARILY STOPPED TEACHING AND STILL DO MY AWANAS DUTIES. I HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME BEING IN CHURCH AND LOOKING AT HIM AND MISSING HIM AND HIS KIDS, IT IS A TERRIBLE MIND GAME HE PLAYS. WHAT DO I DO, I HAVE PRAYED, I JUST FEEL TIRED AND CONFUSED, BUT I ALWAYS FELT THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS STARTED AND BUILT OVER TIME WITH GOD. THAT IS WHY I FEEL SO LET DOWN. I HAVE FORGIVEN HIM FOR THE AFFAIR. BUT THAT DOES NOT HEAL ALL OF THIS… ANY SUGGESTIONS?
jennifer,
u don’t need to do anything..u don’t need to plan and think whats the way u need to do now..jsut leave everything to GOd.. draw urself to Him..put all your attention to HIm ..see HIs face instead of this relationship.. HE will lead u and tell u what to do..at that time..u will think that nothing is more important than HIs LOve… and when u really been touched by HIs love…u would feel so satisfied and contented and all the hurt at the past wouldn’t be a issue for u anymore as HE is the HEALER…HIS LOVE CAN HEAL ALL YOUR WOUNDS… i know .. as i just got myslef out of a relationship by HIs grace…remember…don’t need to plan for urself what u need to do ..just leave it to HIm..He will start doing it when u finally rest in HIs arm.. :)
PHOEBE,
THANKS, THATS WHAT I WILL DO. IT IS SIMPLE AND TRUE.
JENNIFER