Are you in a storm? You know what they say, “You’re either going into a storm, in the midst of a storm or coming out of a storm.”  In the sea of life, storms come and storms go, and we are tossed about on the waves.  How we long for a peaceful leisurely drift through life, but sometimes what we get are gale force winds, waist-high waves and sheets of stinging rain from a cloud that stays right over our heads not matter which direction we go.

The guy who wrote “Row, Row, Row Your Boat Gently Down the Stream” definitely wasn’t riding in our boat. Sometimes we feel like we have to row, row, row our boat just to keep it from sinking. Our stream is more like a roaring river and, as far as life being like a dream, well, who can sleep when you’re battling  the rapids?

Jesus’ disciples could relate to our adventures.  One night they were taking a trip to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  Mark 4:37 says, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full”. They were sinking.  The disciples were afraid and they flew to wake up Jesus who was sleeping peacefully in the bottom of the boat.  He wasn’t worried at all, but then again He had no reason to be.

In verse 39 it says, “He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

The disciples were amazed by how Jesus calmed the sea.  He asked them why they were so afraid and how it was that they had no faith.  Verse 41 says that they asked, “…What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Guess at that point, they hadn’t yet realized that they were out cruising around with the Creator of the Universe.

As our Savior, Jesus rides in our boat too.  All we have to do is call on Him for help with our storms.  As a loving Father, sometimes He will calm our storm and sometimes He will calm us. No matter what His will is for us, He is right there by our side to go through it with us. Safety is not the absence of the storm, it’s the presence of Jesus.

I cannot imagine facing the storms I have faced in my life without Jesus. He has brought me through more storms than I can name including battles with two kinds of cancer and the death and sickness of both of my parents Still today I am standing, and He is carrying me safely through storms I am going through today.

If you have not made Him the Lord of your life and invited Him into your boat, I encourage you to do that today. The storms do not have to be so hard when you can have the “Ultimate Life Preserver” with you when you face the waves, winds and storms of life.  He’s still that same “Peace Speaker” that He was on the Sea of Galilee that night.  He loves you and He cares so much about your storms.

Tools for surviving the storms of life:

1. Accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Do not go through your storms alone. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)

2. Rather than focus on the problems, focus on His promises. Fix your eyes on Jesus and His Word, and He will bring peace and calm to the struggles you are facing. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

3. Pray continuously. He will hear you, and He will answer you. He is in time, on time, every time. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

4. Praise Him in the storm. Praising Him reminds us of His goodness and strengthens our faith. Praise him—he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you. (Deuteronomy 10:21) One of my favorite songs is “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns. https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=WDK7KLNX

5. Love Him. He has a plan for His children, and all things work together for the good of those who love him, for His glory and for the advancement of His Kingdom. (Romans 8:28)

6. Do your part. Show up and do not give up. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

7. Trust. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Dear Lord: Thank You that we do not have to go through the storms of life alone. You are there if we will only go to You for help. Sometimes You calm the storm, and sometimes You calm us. Please be with those who are reading this who are in the midst of uncertain storms. Help them find the assurance and peace for their storms that only comes from You. Amen

What is your status with the storms of life? Are you in going into a storm, in the midst of one or coming out of one? How has God worked through your storms? Please share your experiences, thoughts and comments to encourage our group.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May God carry you and your family always safely through the storms of this life.