Storms: Weathering Life's Trials with Faith

The Sea of Galilee is notorious for sudden, fierce storms. Even though several of the disciples were seasoned fishermen and competent sailors, on one occasion their boat was in real danger of sinking (Mk 4:35-41).

The Reality of Storms

Like literal storms, seasons of intense trials, tests and troubles will come to us all at various stages of life. Spiritual opposition will buffet us, and perplexing trials will arise which test our patience and cause us to ask why. During such bewildering times we need to cry out to the Lord all the more and cling more tightly to Him, because Satan desires to destroy us by driving a wedge between God and us – tempting us to handle matters without His aid. We need discernment to use the authority that Jesus has given us to resist the devil (Jas 4:7).

Storms are not a sign that God has abandoned us; rather, they are often the very circumstances in which our reliance upon Him is either confirmed or exposed. Sometimes events appear out of nowhere – sudden, unannounced, beyond our control. The question is not whether the wind will blow, but what anchors us when it does. We have the resilience to look beyond the turmoil of the present moment only when our hope is fastened to Christ, the anchor of our soul (Heb 6:19). With Him holding us fast, the storm may rage around us but it will not capsize us – we are kept from being shipwrecked, from becoming another casualty of life's trials.

How are you weathering the storms in life?

A storm is never a neutral event: it tests us, and that test will either strengthen us or defeat us. The same gale that fills one sailor with panic drives another to his knees – and from there, to a new depth of trust. Pressure does not create what is in us, it reveals it, and, if we respond rightly, it develops it. James urges us to count it joy when we fall into various trials, because the testing of our faith produces patience and mature, complete character (Jas 1:2-4); Peter reminds us that faith, though tested by fire, is far more precious than gold (1 Pet 1:6-7); and Paul traces the chain from tribulation to perseverance, from perseverance to proven character, and from proven character to hope (Rom 5:3-4).

Yet the outcome is not automatic. The Israelites faced the same daily tests in the wilderness, yet most hardened their hearts and fell short (Heb 3:8-19). The difference was never the severity of the storm but the response of the heart: some were made bitter, others were made better. Nothing that comes against us can in itself destroy our faith – only our surrender to it can. The very storm that breaks the one who has built on sand is the storm that proves the one who has built on rock. Every trial, then, is an invitation: will we let this weather us into Christlikeness, or will we let it sweep us off our foundations? The choice, and with it the outcome, is ours.

Building on a Firm Foundation

To face such storms, the Bible instructs us to 'build' our lives on firm, solid, stable foundations. A foundation is out of sight, and its purpose and dependability are only tested by the ferocity of the storm when it comes – any weakness is exposed. We should prepare wisely for the calamities that may come upon us so that there is not the same devastation, heartache and loss as experienced by those who have not prepared. A good foundation, Jesus said, is to hear and obey Him – for He has the words of truth (Mt 7:21-29). Time and effort are required to establish such a solid basis to counteract the buffeting.

Don't let the trials of life and adverse situations catch you off guard and gain a major advantage over you – be alert (Mt 24:43). Among other precautions, be proactive by 'dressing' appropriately: use the spiritual armour that protects your vital and vulnerable parts, while acting in faith and praying (Eph 6:11-17).

It is too late to prepare when the storm has arrived

The Purpose in the Storm

Thankfully, as a rule, the storms that come our way affect us only for relatively short periods, although the aftermath of consequences can linger for a long time. Thank God that His power is greater than any opposition and that you are, therefore, on the winning side (1 Jn 4:4). Jesus said, 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age' (Mt 28:20) – we are never left to face the storm alone. Nothing happens in our lives without God's approval, or His allowing it to refine our character – this is often the total opposite of our desired comforts and perceived needs. What feels like destruction in the moment may, in hindsight, prove to be the very thing that deepened our roots and steadied our faith.

Jesus is with us, even in the storm

Reflection and Application

Build your life on Christ by hearing and obeying His words.
Put on the spiritual armour before the storm arrives, not during it.
Resist the devil using the authority Jesus has given you.
Trust that God's power is greater, and that He uses storms to refine your character.