We will all face a storm at some point in our lives, however Christians know who to turn to. As we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can rely on Him.
Stormy seas in life, are inevitable for all people. As the Bible says John 16:33, “In this world we shall have tribulation”. It is non-negotiable and cannot be side stepped; but for the Christian, the verse follows through to say “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Furthermore, James 1:2-4 says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Counting it all joy may sound absurd for those who critically analyze what James is saying. It doesn’t fit with the natural mind. However the Word of God operates at a much higher level. Navigating the rough seas of a personal trial, I took time to ponder on this verse and the following seven points surfaced which I would like to share with you.
7 things to remember when you’re in a storm
- Embrace the One who can calm the storm. In a moment of deep distress we have two choices. We can weather the storm by facing the One who is able to calm it, or we can focus our eyes on the storm and drown in it. Choose to count it all joy and keep your eyes on Jesus.
- Jesus is very good at showing up in the middle of our storm. It is what He does. If we take time to focus our eyes on Him, He comes to us. There is no cajoling, pleading, supplicating for Him to come. That is what He is best at doing. Coming to us, in the storm. He sees us surrounded by raging waves and He knows we cannot navigate it on our own an He keeps His Word: “I will not leave you nor forsake you”. He comes!
- Don’t rely on your human strategies, expertise or spirituality. It is Jesus Who calms the storm. As Psalm 107:29 “He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.” The waves know who to obey. Trust Him.
- When we focus on Him, in the storm, we drop the unnecessary. In a storm, we no longer need to wear a mask, our wings are clipped and our ability to move forward is curtailed. We are surrounded by a storm. When we keep on gazing up at His face and meeting Him in the eye, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, we know what baggage we need to drop and what tools we need to pick up. He lightens us and equips us – when we look Him in the eye, in the storm.
- Storms are an ideal time to develop faith and hope – Romans 5:3-5. Waiting, watching and trusting for Him to come through for us in the storm, builds perseverance, a patience, a yielding and a submitting. At the end of it all, our hope is not differed, because – HE will surely come!
- Nothing can separate us from God’s love. As Romans 8:38-39 says, nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God and He is no man that He should lie. He comes because He supremely loves you and I. He loved us, way before we ever came to know Him. He will not allow His beloved to drown in a storm, surely! So, He comes.
- God will use the storm to establish and prove you. When He commands the waves to be still and calms the storm God establishes and proves us, because after all, we are His workmanship created for good works, long before we were born. He will come so that we can continue the good works He has ordained for us.
With these seven things in mind, I choose to keep my eyes on Jesus and not at the waves that rage around me. Will you?
