Do you remember being scared by storms as a child? I know I was terrified of them. Just like the disciples were afraid for their lives on the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee in Mark 4:35-41.
35On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” 36After dismissing the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37And a fierce gale of wind developed, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling with water. 38And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Mark 4:35-41
As you see there, Jesus rebuked the disciples for not having faith, but He still calmed the storm and brought peace as He said He would in Philippians 4:6-7.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
How often do we as humans lose faith? Once a week? Once a day? Every time a difficult situation arises? The point is, we all lose faith at one point or another. It’s human nature to worry about how YOU are going to handle a situation instead of having the faith that God will handle it. As it says in Matthew 11:28, what God wants from us is to cast our worries and our burdens on his shoulders so we can have rest.
28“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
And He says it again in 1 Peter 5:7.
7having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7
That’s right, God CARES for you. He’s there to protect you from any storm that might come your way. Take a look at this story about the Galveston sea wall.
George W. Boschke was the famous engineer who built the gigantic sea wall to protect Galveston, Texas, from the horrible floods which had brought disaster to the city. He built his sea wall with a sure confidence of a thoroughgoing engineer and master workman. From Galveston he went to Oregon to build railroads in an undeveloped section of the state. Boschke was in a camp forty miles away from the nearest railroad when an exhausted messenger rode in and handed a telegram to his assistant. The message said that the Galveston sea wall had been washed away by a second furious hurricane. The assistant was in consternation and dreaded to hand the telegram to his chief. Boschke read the telegram, smiled, handed it back and said, “This telegram is a black lie. I built that wall to stand.” He turned away and went about his work. It turned out that the message was based on a false report. True, there had been a hurricane as severe as that which had flooded the city before, but Boschke’s sea wall had not been moved. It stood firm. “I built that wall to stand,” said Boschke and went smilin on about his work amid rumors of disaster.
-Benjamin P. Browne
The same way the sea wall protects Galveston from hurricanes and the confidence that the engineer had is the same way God protects us from storms and we should have that same confidence. The protection God gives us is built to stand.
We discussed that God always protects us from whatever storm comes our way, but what if God is sending us this storm to make us stronger? He DOES do that and the evidence is in 1 Peter 1:7-9.
7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:7-9
You might be wondering what kind of God would allow you to face a storm, you might think that you have enough faith without being tested. Think about what you might miss by NOT going through the storm that God sends for you. Look at Jeremiah 29:11.
11For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
If a storm is part of God’s plan for us, there is a really good reason for us to face it. That thought is reinforced by Romans 8:28.
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
I’ve had several jobs that would be considered EXTREMELY hostile work environments. In ALL of these jobs, I had PLENTY of opportunity to let go of my faith and just be bitter and resentful towards the people that were making it hard for me to work. But I kept my faith and I know these were storms in my life and my faith was really put to the test, but I maintained, and I survived and I am a stronger man in Christ for it.
Look at Job. He went through some MAJOR storms in his life. While he did seek wise counsel, he ALSO turned everything over to God.
21He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 1:21
Job understood that God was sovereign, that He was in control, and that He was going to provide for his life.
There are only three categories you can fall under. Either you just got out of a storm, you are in a storm, or you are going into a storm.
–Rev. Lyn Holly
We’re all going to go through storms. It’s part of the process of growing stronger in Christ. The next time you’re going through a storm don’t be afraid to ask friends to pray for you, or pray yourself and ask God for His help.
1Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1
Prayer should be the STARTING point when you’re in a storm. Sometimes it’s good to have an accountability partner. Or even better, go straight to God and rely on Him to carry you through.
Don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big your God is.
–Rev. Lenny Krebs, Sr.
13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Jesus Home Ministries 
Great reminder to have faith and trust in God during storms. It’s important to remember that God is there to protect and strengthen us, even when we face difficult situations.
founder of balance thy life