Encouragement
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Storms are the situations which are difficult for us to deal with, issues and circumstances we haven't prepared for because we never planned for them.
The storm may be allowed for a reason
God can allow the storm for a reason. We may not agree with it and we are very likely to present Him with ideas on how He could have beautifully carried out His plan without the stormy situation. We don’t like the storms and its for good reason since it's not pretty at all. But God is God, He is wise and good. He knows very well what He is doing and why He is doing it in that way. We see this with Noah (Genesis 7) where God allowed the storm to blot out sinful deeds from the world. And we see this in the book of Job where God allowed the storm because He was proving a point.
Storms are usually unforeseen
The storm can hit at any time, most times without warning. God can either prepare us for the storms in our lives or otherwise. In Genesis, Noah knew about the storm to come because God told Him and prepared him for it by guiding him to build an ark to go through the storm. Job, on the other hand, had no idea whatsoever what was going on. We find him sitting there and trying to figure out what was happening and why.
There are instances when we have been prepared for the storm more than we think we are. For instance, before the tragic notice of the Jews being killed during the reign of King Ahasuerus, the Lord had already prepared someone to use in calming that storm by sending in a queen ahead of time. The disciples didn’t understand pretty much everything the Lord Jesus was saying to them, but He was preparing them for the storms that were yet to show up in their lives when He was gone. But even while He was there, He gave them a little test which they failed (Matthew 8: 18- 27). In that passage, we find that Jesus knew they had seen enough to have faith especially with Him in the boat but apparently, they didn’t think so.
Sustenance is key
We don’t usually know the shape and form the storm will take or how long it is going to be. This is even the case for when we still have foreknowledge of the storm and may be prepared. This is frustrating for us. Because we are never really prepared for everything we are likely to face. The Lord handles all the other complex intricacies which we usually focus on because we know we are not prepared for that. God will give you all you need in a storm, and when there are blanks, which you can’t fill out, all you need to put there is God because He is going to fill it out.
We usually want the storm to vanish as quickly as possible, but sustenance should be key. We need to focus on having faith in the Lord till the very end of the storm. For instance, Noah was instructed to build the ark and gather the food. He didn’t have to worry about how the storm will happen or when it will end. He just needed to carry along all that was required to sustain him during the storm. Such preparation for sustenance is attained through obedience to God.
The storm may be useful
You may sometimes need the storm. God allowed the storm to get Jonah back on track. Obviously, he had forgotten who the God He served is. We go off the path God plans for us due to different reasons, it could be fear, disobedience etc. but God can sometimes use the storm to redirect us back to where He needs us to be. And as this happens, we will find that we are put in the situation where we have to remember who we are.
The situation brings us to that point where people begin to find out why and who we are, just to try to explain all the chaos. And this will take us back to recalling and restating who we are in Christ. That brings our minds to the truth and with this, we are able to stand on that truth as we go through the struggle. Not only do we find this happening with Jonah when he is questioned about who he is (Jonah 1: 8&9) but Job as well who spent time reflecting on God and his relation to Him.
Quit comparing yourself
The last thing we want to do when we are going through a difficult time is to compare ourselves with others. We would want to have a little pity party because we don’t know why we should go through one thing when some else is not going through it. We all have different lives with different stories. God has a different path for each of us and this means we will all have to go through our storms at different times.
Not everyone may be prepared
One person or more than one people can go through a storm. However, some may be more prepared than others when many people are involved. Noah may have been more prepared than other members of his family since he received the information and had to do all the preparations and, get everyone into the ark. Based on this, the way each person would react to the storm would be different. Don’t be angry when one person is too calm, and another is overreacting or too worried. Different preparations, reactions, maturity etc. play a role. The most prepared individual will have the responsibility of helping the others go through it as God strengthens him or her. And that person has to come to that realisation so that the entire group sails smoothly through. That person will have everything to shoulder and sustain the others.
Our problems do not submerge God
As shielded as we may feel, with the knowledge of God and the consciousness of His presence, there is a tendency to fear and feel alone. But we are to make a conscious decision not to dwell in that place. The storms have a way of making us feel like the problems we are going through have submerged everyone around us including God. But it's not the case, I am certain that God is right there. This is a truth that is seen all over the Bible.
Trusting in Him
How we react during the storm tells a story about our trust in God. We usually don’t have much of a choice than to trust in God and have His peace. This is because there is really nothing that can be done. There Noah was, sitting in the middle of nowhere and on an ocean of water. He was out of his comfort zone and all he could do was to trust that God was going to keep them safe. Jonah couldn’t do much either than to pray to God, trusting in His help. Instead of walking away, we walk to Him showing that we trust in His ability and faithfulness to see us through.
The storm sifts out our treasures
The storm sifts out our treasures and the things that we hold dear. It helps us and others to see what we really treasure. You can lose everything in the storm, Noah lost everything except his family, Job lost everything including some members of his family. There is a reason why the Bible tells us what treasures to keep because though there are storms that could take our earthly treasures they can’t take the treasures we have stored above. And more importantly, if Christ is our treasure, we will never lose Him. Is Jesus your treasure?
Obedience in the storm
As you walk in obedience to God and as He prepares us for all kinds of storms, people may laugh, mock and draw away. In the quest to live a life of obedience to draw others to God, it may seem like its rather drawing them away because they think there is something wrong with us. However, there always is a bigger plan, because if you continue in obedience, even in the storm, our actions can open up a door for God to work and then like in Jonah’s case, people will be drawn to God. Also, through the storm, avenues are opened for us to experience and know God in a way that we haven’t yet known Him.
As we find in the book of Luke when Jesus calmed the storm and they said, He commands the winds and they obey, this was a revelation to them. Further, it causes you to take steps of faith which you would have otherwise not taken to draw much closer to God (Like Peter taking the step of faith to walk on the water after seeing Jesus). In the end, God is glorified as you triumph over the stormy situation by the power of the holy spirit and the enemy is put in his place (In the book of Job, the devil was put to shame because he triumphed through it).
Calling on the Lord during the storm
The storm will cause us to call on the Lord our God. It reminds us of our incapability and dependence on God as the Only One who is able to save and deliver us. Like Jonah called out to God as he found himself in the heart of the seas, engulfed by the currents with water encompassing him to the point of death (Job 2: 3-5).
Job called out to God as he tried to understand what was happening to be able to cope with the situation. The disciples called on Jesus when the boat started to rock on the seas. Suddenly, it wasn’t enough for Jesus to sleep. They needed Him and called out to Him. In calling out to Him we acknowledge His power and authority over every situation and that opens the door for Him to work in a way that brings glory to Him.
Not only do we call on Him but other people around us begin to call on Him on our behalf whether they believed in Him or not because they know we believe in Him. That is a recipe for the restoration of souls and the will of God in the lives of people to be accomplished. We see this in Jonah’s story (Jonah 1: 14-16), in the story of Esther as well (Esther 4:15-17). That is beauty in the storm as their eyes are opened to the truth.
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