How Believers Can Navigate Through the Storms of Life

Problems are allowed by God for our good, so here’s how to navigate life’s storms when you find yourself in one.

Common to All

There isn’t anything that has happened to you that hasn’t already happened to someone else. There is nothing new under the sun, so whatever you are going through right now, is probably something someone has already passed through. Many of us face great disappointments, but one man said, “Let disappointment be His appointment.” I see his point in that. We may not be able to fix our problems…so perhaps our problems are there to fix us. Whatever happens to us, good or bad, God allows them to happen and we have His promise that it will all turn out for our very best (Rom 8:28).

Strength in the Struggle

One example of trials and troubles helping is the persistently strong southern winds in Kansas. Dodge City, Kansas is listed as the windiest city in the nation (not Chicago), but these strong winds do not destroy the trees; instead, they force them to grow stronger branches and trunks, sending their taproots even deeper into the soil. With the trees being strengthened, having deeper roots acting as critical anchors, they were more easily able to avoid severe damage during intense storms and even tornadoes (where we get our share!). The constant stress on the trees makes them less susceptible to suffering wind damage. Get this: the wind helps the tree prepare for the wind. Trials prepare us to face more trials. And how not to fall when the winds come.

Which is Your Storm?

God may allow a storm in your life for several different reasons, and even reasons we don’t know. For example, here are four storms that are intended for our good. Remember, God allows all things to happen for our good (Rom 8:28). All things have God’s stamp of approval on it, so here are four of the more common storms God may send or allow us to enter into.

Storms of Correction: Sent to redirect us and grab our attention over personal sin issues.

Storms of Reflection: Designed to cause us to pause, look inward, and evaluate our lives.

Storms of Direction: Used by God to guide people toward their true calling or mission, similar to the storm encountered by Jonah.

Storms of Perfection: Intended to build perseverance, test faith, and strengthen an individual’s spiritual dependency on God.

Clearly, there are more reasons than these, but we need to learn to trust God, even in the storm. The word trust, used in Psalm 37:3, means “to lean upon, roll oneself over onto, or feel safe and secure without panic” which reminds me of Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus invites all to roll it all over onto His broad shoulders. His yoke is the one that bears the weight you cannot bear alone.

The Benefits of Affliction

The Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). [Never seen any bumper sticker with that on it!] How is that good? It was good so that he/we “might learn your statues.” The lesson is, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67). That’s what afflictions, trials and troubles do. God “does not afflict” the Devil’s children but His very own whom He loves (Heb 12:6). “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline” (Heb 12:7), so you should feel loved when disciplined. Children are alive today because their parents loved them enough to keep them from playing in the street.

Comforting Others

When we see our brother or sister in a storm, we should be there to offer them help. Hasn’t someone done that for us? The reasons we go through things are so that we can understand and sympathize with others when they’re going through what we went through. God “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2nd Cor 1:4). So how does God comfort us and others in their affliction? He uses others as a means to reach His ends; chiefly comforting the hurting and grieving. The point is, He can use us as a means to give comfort to a grieving spouse or parent. God works through the hands of His saints, if only we would allow Him too.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…

Deep Valleys and Dark Shadows

David wrote in the well-known Psalm 23 that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (23:4a). This is interesting, because shadows can’t kill. Let me ask you, “Would you rather get hit by the shadow of a Mack Truck or the truck itself?” I wonder if the disciples who were in two different storms on the Sea of Galilee may have quoted Isaiah 43:12 which says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” If only they realized this about Jesus: what’s over their head is under His feet!

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About Trials: 20 Scriptures on Tribulations

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Problems, rials, Storms, Tribulations, Troubles