Purpose in the Storm
Are you in a storm today? Come talk to a mentor.
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’” (Mark 4:37 – 38)
I’ve been in the midst of many storms in my life and you have been too. In those times, it’s hard not to focus on ourselves or on the situation. It’s easy to sometimes feel that God has forgotten us. But there is purpose in the storm. The storms of life help shape and mold us. It builds faith, character, and “worketh patience”. (James 1:1-7)
God also wants to use us in the midst of the storm. The church that I attend recently did outreach on the Coney Island boardwalk. The winds that day were gusting at 30-40 miles per hour. There was a sand storm! The sand and wind were hitting us so hard in the face that we actually could not face certain directions. Every time we opened our mouths to minister, we ate sand! One member said, “There’s not much that we can do out here”. Still, we stood in the midst of the storm. We knew that God had sent us there with a purpose.
Very soon after, a homeless man, Dave, and his friend approached me. Dave asked, “Why are you out here?” As the sand swirled around us, I was able to share the love of God with him. I told him how God had sent us there to let Dave know that He loves and cares for him and that’s he’s not forgotten.
Afterward, Dave told me his story – how he ended up on the street and how he couldn’t believe that he was there. I was able to give him resources and pray for him and also for his friend. Dave received the prayer, gave thanks, and walked away a couple of steps. Then he came back and said, with tears in his eyes, “It’s so hard out here”.
Dave was also in a storm. There are many people in the midst of the storms of life without any hope. Many who are right around us – on our jobs and in our neighborhoods – are struggling. The winds are blowing on all of us.
As believers, our hope is in Christ, the One who can speak to the winds and the waves, “Peace, be still.” (Mark 4:39) He gives us His peace in the midst of the storm and calms our fearful hearts. He reminds us of this peace in John 14:27,“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
We know Him to be “faithful and true”(Revelations 19:11). He’s “the God of all comfort” (II Corinthians 1:3) who meets us in the storm and comforts us with His presence and grace. We have to allow God’s light to shine through us, that others might be blessed, even while we ourselves are standing in the storm.
Holy God, Thank you for being with me in the storms of my life. Teach me to stand firm on your promises when the wind swirls around me. Amen.
Question: Are you in a storm? Though you may not see it, there is purpose. How can you be an example of God’s light as you walk through your storm?
20 Responses to “Purpose in the Storm”
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Minister Tanya,
What a word of encouragement about allowing God to use us in the midst of the storm. I needed to hear this message of encouragement. I feel God is reminding me that even though I find myself in a storm, God is still there. He understands the situation and wants to use me for His glory in spite of the situation. Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you in a mighty way! Love, Your sister in Christ, Andrea
Amber,
I thank you much and must say that the feeling is mutual. It is the same here,as i too rarely get the oppurtunity to share regularly with anyone my love of Christ. Nobody really seems to on a personal level like to talk much about Him and or this Christian walk of ours often. It is hard to find regular encouragement. Your truly a blessing Amber. Maybe it is just that everyone i know is so busy and have families. I guess i can not really expect much more and do understand they have lives too,and responsabilities. Amber, i too am going through what you once went through. I really do not want to have any bitterness or become hard hearted ever again. God has brought us too far for that. I really do yearn for purity very much. I know it will not be how i wish it could be now,ontil we get Home to Heaven though. That is the reality of it. As far as giving you my email i would very much like to do that and agree that we should not be communicating so one on one ish,on here. The thing is i’m not the brightest techno guy and really do not know how to go about getting it to you without posting it for others to see. Besides i’m not sure we are even allowed to post them on here. Perhaps they at “power to change” can look at this and see that i’m fine with you having it and give them permission to send it to you. Would that work? I’m actually quite happy and filled with joy over this,having genuinely smiled a bit again. : ) Forever In Christ! Tom.
To Tom, the purity of your thoughts tell me SO much about your Heart for Christ and is so refreshing to my eyes and spirit! As you see here, everything you shared came through. The same thing happened to me once so when i write long thoughts i always copy to paste if that should happen. i must say i am enjoying and getting lifted up by what you genuinely share and would like to ask for your email address so we don’t take up so much room on this site from others. It is so rare that i find someone who relates to where i’ve been and whom i understand the things they’ve been through. Jesus told us to “encourage one another” and i feel this is what’s been lacking for the both of us. Please let me know. Blessings~Amber
Good morning sister Amber! I will try to shorten this and get to the point i was led to say. I tried earlier in more detail but when i went to submit it ,it blew me off and went to my sign in again.I don’t see that it submitted. I truly believe that sometimes the enemy tries to even discourage us with this technology of today. Anyway a short version of what i tried to send you earlier is the following: I believe God that He sometimes gives and takes away for our good. Blessed be the Lord! He is Soveriegn and knows what is needed to get us to where He wants true believers. Sometimes that is to make Him first in our lives as our greatest love. Sometimes He has to take us away from ones we love more than Him to get us there. He is a jealous God! I have had to back off in a relationship quite a bit lately because i would love to see her put God genuinely first in her life as her greatest love. That is the only way a relationship can work for me is if two people have Christ in the center as the number one love of thier life. She seems to be growing much more than i did my first couple years of my walk way back when it began. She is a babe in Christ still but seems to be maturing a bit now. I just need to make sure it is for real and not to just appease me. There are some other complications too and things with her boys that i do not want to be around even though they are smart young men from a worldy view and do not get into trouble doing things the world would think is wrong. I need a women that is going to put God first for real and me second if we were to marry. Just as i would do with them loving them as Christ so loves the Church. She has a 23 year old son,daughter that lives across country married and a son who will be 17. It is not easy because she has raised them alone for many years since young on her own. She did pretty good outside of spiritually with them. God used me to lead her to the Cross to be saved . I do not know where it is heading. Only time will tell. If it be the will of God still then let it be. If not then i must move on. She in her own way seems to love me but the Bible says that in marriage that God is to be first,each other second and if any kids then them. I’m not sure if that will be the case with her. I’m waiting on God to see. Seems i’m the one at the stand still now and being in the halt place too long is not good. Soon i have to get going forward again for the Lord! Pray for what God wants for me Amber. Thanks! God bless you! Forever in Christ!
Amber,
I’m so glad you liked the writing by G.d. . Quite humbling and special to say the least. Yes Lol,i have absolutely often felt as if my life was much like that of the movie ground hog day. Infact i was just thinking that a few day’s ago again for about the millionth time. It can be boring but routine can also be a blessing in disquise i guess. Sometimes it is good and safe as well. Let me encourage you that being attractive physically and no men really observing you may be a blessing also. First of all you never want a man just because he thinks your beautiful on the outside.Often that is just lust and that never lasts long. If in church your not getting attention it may just be that the men are for the most part in the right place with God concerning the opposite sex and battle temptation by bouncing thier eyes as not to sin and fall into lustful thought. At church i would not take it personal. Look at it as men that are really trying to obey God! As a man i can say also that i’m an attractive guy. I do not say that in a conceeaded way at all. I do not think i’m like i was when younger for sure but i guess look wise i’m still most of the time slightly above average. With the exception of when i first wake up. Lol! But seriously i’ve learned that truly the outside can be gorgeous and the inside very ugly. All my life i had to be involved with the perfect ten 110 Lb blue eyed women like my ex who i married.Although toward the end she became a believer changing. There was hope but the enemy got us as new believers and we never spoke again and she remarried her first husband again who was not a believer for money and because of resentment.Nommatter what deep down i know she will always love me because she knows i was not a bad guy even though i made a bad mistake. I found that looks truly can be decieving and destroy or almost destroy people and lives. I could never be with her again. For years my ex crushed my spirit. I forgive her and hope she will forgive me,but even if she popped up now after many years i could not be with her ever again. I realize that now. I really do not judge a book by it’s cover ever now. What i do now is discern by what i see and hear pertaining to Christ! If a person can not stop talking about Christ and is not ashamed to proclaim Him as Lord & Savior, who shows it by thier fruits as well, then that person would excite me. True beauty is in Christ! Those in Love with Christ first and foremost would be beautiful to me if they weighed 300 Lbs and deformed. I see past the outside beauty now more than ever before and look to the heart. I can be attracted to anyone who loves Christ! There were a few women very attracted to me at my church. I could tell by thier little oos and ahhs ,and umms when they hugged me .It was not my love for Christ though that attracted them. It was just physical on thier part. I quickley had to begin to avoid them and make things clear in a kind way by how i take a stand with them with the love of God,when i do still occasionally bump into them. I kind of put my whole life out there on purpose too for certain reasons only God and i know right now. True wisdom begins with the fear of God! I have certainly started to obtain the reverance for our Lord! I still fall short and stumble but am quick to repent with conviction to my heart. There are lines i won’t cross for sure anymore and have no desire to. You sound both Beautiful on the outside and inside. There is no doubt that you Love the Lord by what you say. You seem very real! A real Christian with a real Christian walk that is not peachy but up and down with battles and struggles. That is what makes it real sister. God will put the right man in your life. Remember it is His timing and ways. He already has the man chosen for you. He may be right infront of you somewhere and you do not know it yet. Iv’e also learned the more we love Christ and want to live for His Glory the more the enemy wants to pull us down sometimes. I have allot of obstacles that keep me from all i can be in Christ because of man. But my hope is in Christ and i believe He can and will change things for His glory making a way for me to be all i can. I would love to be a team with someone one day and pray that will be. I see myself with some form of serious ministry work one day. Many have said to me that God is going to use me with a mighty power for His glory one day. That is pretty much all people say to me anymore. I think to myself Ok then how about helping me get there. But it has not happened yet or maybe slowly it is and i do not see it yet really coming together like i desire. Just have to keep trusting God! I used to make great money but man sabatoged that out of jealousy. I truthfully was a slave to the job though. I would rather be a slave for Christ now and realize that even though i honored God in all i did that i was killing myself with 12 to 16 hour days 6 and sometimes 7 days a week. Now i’m learning to be content with little,and grateful more too. I’ve been living off my savings for some time and it is dwindling down so i may just have to really humble myself soon and get whatever i need to get by with basics to keep this cozy roof over my haed,few little bills paid and some food. I lost my dear grandmother who was almost ninety and a believer. I was like a son to her and she did allot of the raising of myself. Blessings left behind are blessings from God and there may be enough soon to get rolling with copyrights to the songs God has put on my heart to write Lyrics for His Glory alone. If God decides to spread them throughout the body of Christ and blesses me financially i will be so grateful. But if that does not happen i will still write them for Him,my audience of One whom i love and adore. One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 11:1-Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. God blees you Amber :). Forever In Christ! Brother T (Tom)
Wow Dixie! I truly thank God for you. Right on sister . Amen! I’m in total agreement with you. You may find this hard to believe but it is true. In my 14 year walk i’ve spent years encouraging and breathing life from God’s Word into others. Yet only a handful of times other than a couple friends and my Pastor with his sermons have people been this refreshing to me as people like you at ‘power to change”. I thank you so much. Sometimes we need to hear from others what so many times we have spoken ourselves to other people. My well was running dry but it has just filled a bit again. Glory to God! :)
Brother T, i just read the GD Watson article and yes, i am reminded now and then about God’s Jealousy and Sovereigncy! Boy, HE must be REALLY jealous over us huh? So jealous in my case that he makes me totally invisible to the opposite sex and i am an attractive petite woman looking NO where near my age! Have you ever seen the movie with Bill Murray called “Ground Hog Day”? This is what my life feels like…ONE BIG DAY! Same stuff over and over again where time is a blur and everything feels like i just did that! i used to try so hard to figure God out…not anymore. i get up, i Thank Him for regenerating sleep, have my coffee, get ready for work and out i go. i do very well at both my jobs. Even when i sign up for different classes of interest,or go to a different church, there is never anyone there i relate to. i feel like the proverbial “hole in the doughnut”. Before God got His hands on me, i too, had the new house, the new car, the handsome husband. None of it was for the HIS Glory and i was too young to appreciate it all. Oh well, and life goes on. One of my favorite scriptures is from Ecclesiastes 4:6…”Better is a handful with quietness, then both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.”
Brother T. Thank you this Sunday morning for your encouraging words. I know whatever I focus on, grows larger. My attitude is the key. I can create whatever expereince I choose to have to day. As they say, “Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional”. I need to stay out of guilt, self pity, morbid reflection and realize “This is the day the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it….For the Joy of the Lord is our strength”. Blessed Sunday, everyone. And remember, you can start your day over any time you choose to!
Dixie,
Yes Rias post was so inspiring to me as well. My heart hurts for her at the same time. It is so good to get out of ourselves by seeing other peoples hurt sometimes and that is just what you did.I commend Ria for all she is going through and staying positive. That is because her strength appears to be in the Lord. I jsut pray much for her husband to give the booze to God and leave the bottles at the altar for Him to destroy before the alcohol destroys so much in his life. Inevitably pain and suffering will come much more if he does not leave it alone. I had to learn the hard way and hope he does not have to go that route. I’m praying for him and all of you. If i could do more to help and you all were nearbye i just want you to all know that i would be there for you all. But in Spirit we are bonded through the Holy Spirit for sure. If God is faithful to care for the Birds of the sky how much more will He care for us. He is there always and gives us what we need. Father does know what’s best and He will provide. When there seems to be no way,God,will make a way. In Jesus Name i pray! Forever in Christ. Brother T.
Anber, thank you too very much. You are a blessing. It is so good to know that others who struggle too like us ,still love and cling to the Lord like you seem to be doing as well. I too have suffered consequences from wrong decisions and mistakes many years ago that i made when i drank heavy. I thank God that he removed the desire for alcohol from my life so long ago. I once was a very popular extavert that socialized all the time staying very active . Through my journey God has actually changed my personality and made me more of an intervert. I like you spend alot of quiet time with God, me and my cat in my little 5 room cottage . It is a blessed peaceful little place and i used to have a huge home years ago that i owned. This little place is better because it is built on the Rock and not on the sand like the large home i owned. I guess God wanted different for me and this all may be part of the molding and shaping me more into who He wants me to be. I just have to keep trusting Him ,and i encourage you too as well anber. Yes i do get tired of hearing peoples show praising the Lord saying glory to God,and that they will pray for us. Yet it seems all they do is say i will pray for you,but nobody ever seems to want to step out in faith to help. I too have led many to the Lord in my 14 year walk and dropped much seed. The glory totally belongs to God for all that. I’m humbled greatly by how He has used me during the years. I just hope God can use someone to help me to be all He would have me to be. Yes i as well have had people back off from me because i’m no longer in the same league as them. They probably feel they are better and less a sinner than me . I do not know. What i do know is it is thier loss because i know i have allot to offer because of my deep love for Christ! It is not good for man to be alone either as God says in Genisis for sure. I do not have much but what little i have i pray i can share one day. I’m 47 years old and know that i need to be married again one day hopefully soon. I have a daughter who i was very close with when she was little,but she has been kept out of my life by my ex for many many years brain washed. It tares me apart because i missed out on her whole life and she is now an adult. I just have to keep trusting God! Again it is all about His timing with things and His way not my own. I do have a few close friends that are authentic God loving and fearing Christians but they are busy with thier hectic lives and have wives and family . I too have so many wonderful thoughts,ideas ,goals and desires that are Godly. I just can’t get there without God’s help putting the right people in my life. Sister, there is a man that wrote someting long ago that is beautiful. His name is G.D. Watson. He was a brother in Christ that went to be with the Lord. Great man of God. He wrote something called “Others may,you cannot”. I encourage you to read it and let me know what you think. Perhaps whom he is Speaking of are people like you and i. God bless you sister and keep going for the Lord!
I thought I was in a storm, until I read ria’s post. I am creating some of my own problems. Like a lot of people, I am worried about finances and the fact I have no retirement and am underemployed. I am alone, in the sense I was raised an only child, my parents are deceased and I never married and have no kids. I do have friends. Thank God. I do have a roof over my head and food to eat and clothes to wear, so I really praise God for that. Thanks for being here everyone, that I can say that.
To Brother T, i can’t thank you enough for being “REAL” with your testimony. i have so often asked “why” my life went the way it did and always watching others be blessed in ways i don’t even have a clue about! i’ve been with the LORD for 30 yrs! Some might say “it must be sin in her life” like Job’s so called friends said to him. i’ve done a season of backsliding years ago but was only because my life was going nowhere! i paid the consequences for those choices and now stay quiet and to myself. The world almost ate me up! There were also many Christians who actually broke off thier friendships with me because i wasn’t in thier “league”. You know, every other word was “Praise the LORD” and “Oh Glory to God”. i am a very REAL person and don’t cover up what’s really inside of me with that kind of thing. God has the power to help us Brother T yet does it ever feel like you swear He has His favorites? i’ve been working 2 jobs for the past 4 yrs. 7 days a week…all i do is work to support myself. i’m NOT saying God has never done anything for me. There’s been little things here and there over the years and i’m extremely grateful for my health since the 6 major surgeries i’ve gone through. Yes, we both love the LORD and carry on. i guess this is all He wants from us. It’s a pretty boring existence esp when there’s no one to share thoughts and ideas with. Do you know how many times i’ve heard people tell me how God blessed them with a great husband? i have no idea what this is like. i have no idea what many blessings are like and this makes me sad. Oh well, like you, i keep running the race and know Heaven will be where my dreams come true. He’s used me to bring lost people to Jesus over the years, perhaps that was my only mission. Take care of yourself ok? And again, thank you for being REAL. Bless you.
Amber, i just saw what you wrote sister and i can relate. I too long so much for Heaven. I want to mostly hug Jesus and just rest my head on His shoulder for a bit. I then hope to soon recognize my grandmothers. Maybe i won’t know they were once my grandmothers on eart here, but it will still be so wonderful to just be surrounded with love forever in Heaven. Amber my mouth is drying out too. My hands are getting tired and i’m spending allot of time shutting myself away from this wicked world lately also.I was on fire for the Lord much with many gifts He blessed me with.
Unfortunately life here has just burned me out and i never got the support,encouragement or guidance i needed with others that i thought would come into my life sent by God to bring out the best for His Glory. I always thought that God uses others to be His hands and feet to help us. I do still believe that and have saw it with others. I just have yet to see Him work in my life by using others to help me get to where God wants for His Glory. I don’t know anymore.Maybe they are and i just do not see it. I will remain faithful back to God because He is Faithful always. He cares for me with basics and meets my needs. But if others do not see anything more in me from my Church ,i just have to accept that. I thought by now i would of been doing much more to promote the Kingdom but i have been hinderd by man. I have been discouraged more than encouraged because iv’e been given gifts but needed help and direction to get to where God wants with them. It may still happen. I have to remember it is about God always and His timing . Not mine.Maybe i’m doing more than i realize now and just what God wants. I do not know but i do trust Him. I’m such an imperfect person. See people do not understand that sometimes satan can use others as his agents to keep us down,or get us off the direction God wants to lead us to. I’m very opressed right now and battling to not fall into depression. I do not want to give up on God! There just has to be more than this with the deep love and hunger He has given me for Him more and more. Right now i’m just confused a bit and know that comes from the enemy. I’ll continue to Carry the weaker lighter part of the Cross the best i can being the best disciple i can be right now. I feel very alone but know that i’m not. I just do not have the Christian connections i guess with others that can help me get to where i think i should be. It is sad that when we really go to church for the right reasons and not just to network,that other true believers can not see that or do but just never reach out a hand to help. I could play a game like allot do but i won’t. I know i go to church for the right reasons always. I know i love the Lord with all my heart,soul,mind and strength too. I feel i’m losing the desire God gave me to glorify Him with His wonderful gifts he gave to me. I’m just discouraged when i think that even in the Christian community that people that mingle,suck up,have money and get in with the right ones end up often seeming to do things and get ahead for thier own glory and success. I’m a very real person and i go to church for the right reasons to worship and praise God with my brothers and sisters in the Lord! And get a word through the sermons,and serve there the best i can. I hope one day i can be all God would have me to be for His glory. If He blesses me financially i would be so grateful being able to do more and more for Him. I want to because i love Him so much. There are many stumbling blocks in my way and i hope whomever reads this understands what i’m trying to say. I’m just in a rut right now. Every time i get close to something it seems the enemy snips it away. I’m just tired and so ready to go Home. Please pray for me and i will for you Amber. Forever In Christ! Brother T.
The only way i can continue to be a light through what seems to be a never ending storm,is to remain Faithful Praising and worshiping God! By just continuing to trust Him and know He is Soveriegn.
Thank you for this reminder, God has continuously been are rock and strength in all the storms that my family and I go through. When many doors have closed, there has always been a window open with new opportunities and blessings… not only to receive but to give unto others who are in greater need than we are. Thank you for God for using you to continue to help us to refresh our faith, hope and trust in Him.
I appreciate being reminded of God’s constant presence, especially now. Every-
one in our Church seems to be dealing with the “storms of life”. But, our God
IS faithful. And He will bring us through, for His glory. Hallelujah! He will
use it all to bring glory to His name and to edify and build us up in our most
holy faith.
Wow… God is amazing! At this moment someone I love and am very close is going through a few storms. Deaths of parents, illnesses etc. Although he is saved and knows the God we serve is faithful he is struggling at this moment to understand. I know he may not want to hear about this devotion at this moment but at least I can silently pray for him. It is so comforting to know scriptures to remind him that the God we serve never gives us more than we can handle. Thank you for blessing others with God’s word. May God shower you today with unexpected blesings. =D
Thank you for this one. i am 60 yrs old and have been in wind storms my whole life. When i would face the winds in my early years i could take it for a time then it would knock me down to the ground. The LORD would pick me up but not without me filling up with more and more hatred and bitterness. The wind blew me down every time i tried to get to where i wanted to be. When i had gone through so many of these storms, i became exhausted and tried committing suicide 3 times. This landed me in a coma for 5 days but at least i was out of the winds! i have only one child and he suffers from Bi polar disorder so he treats me with hostility and disrespect. i love the LORD and now stay out of the wind as much as possible. i’ve retreated to shelter these days. Those winds kept me from every thing i ever wanted. i live alone and had so much “sand” in my mouth, it’s dried my tongue out to the point of not voicing my desires any longer. i long for Heaven where the winds will be more like the airy, delightful breezes on some beautiful tropical island.
Thank you Tanya this devotion has touch me you don’t know how God is talking to me through you, i have been in the storm the past few months but our God has strengthen my faith in way i cannot imagine, God is the living God and he is peace, and i glorify his name. AMEN
The sorms of life are raging in my life. My mom is in late stage Alzheimers, and we are caring for her at home. My dads health is not that great either. My job is giving me an ultimatum. My husbands drinking is out of control and, I am plagued with migraines that wont quit. Im not complaining about anything I have to face. Even with tears in my eyes, I give God praise every day and ask for strength to make it through whatever I am facing. I know God is good and he promised never to leave me or forsake me. I am trusting Him til the end.