Stormy Weather

During my time in the Navy, I was given the opportunity to go to Israel. Although it was a Temporary Assignment of Duty, I was able to spend 3 months there. While there, I stayed for a week in a tourist town called Tiberius. For you geography buffs, this town sits on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This was an experience that I had been hoping for since I became a Christian.

The Sea of Galilee really isn’t a Sea though. It’s more of a very big lake. It’s freshwater, about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide and surrounded by mountains. It’s fed by Natural Springs and the Jordan River. Being surrounded by Mountains, it has very serious and sudden storms.

Kind of like Christians, storms will come suddenly, and unexpectedly. There are storms that come affecting your families, your flesh, and your finances. There are many forces to be reckoned with when the storms come. The lightning, the winds blowing, and the flooding waters are all forces that come with the storm.

The Force of the Storm May Discourage You. I have often found myself discouraged when in the midst of the storm. The disciples were certainly discouraged in thinking that Jesus was asleep, and did not at all care about the storms. Likewise, as you are going through your storms, the devil will whisper that the Lord is nowhere around. HE LIES!

The Force Of The Storm Can Drain You. The force of the storm can weigh heavy on you, bringing despair. You will begin to think that the winds will never quit blowing. HAVE PATIENCE!

The Force Of The Storm Can Defeat You. When you are thinking about giving up, be like David when he said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” Psalm 46:1-3.

The Force Of The Storm Can Determine You. Back to the Navy, the Drill Instructors were very tough on us; we ran for miles; did hundreds of pushups and sit ups; did close order drill for hours and when we finished that… we did it again. Why? They were making us strong and tough! The Lord also lets us go through storms to toughen us up for spiritual warfare. Some of the strongest people that I have met are those who have constantly been exposed to the storms of life.

There is a natural fear the come with the storms of life. In Mark chapter 4, these disciples were afraid because they were not trusting. They forgot that the Lord had said; Let us pass over unto the other side. He did not say, Let us get to the middle of the lake and sink. They simply did not trust the Lord when this great storm came.

Because Of Unbelief, They Were Afraid Of The Potential Dangers. When the Lord said, “Peace, be still”, He was using a word that He used to rebuke the demons. This gives indication that this storm was no ordinary storm, but one sent by Satan. I have been in storms that could certainly be described as Satanic in origin. You can sense that it is just that. When these kinds of storms come, you must guard your mind, because you will begin imagining all kinds of things taking place.

Hebrews 11:6 we are told, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for him that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.”

Trusting God is so vital, and when you are going through your most difficult storm, you must trust him more. Have faith in God. Those who were with Jesus were fearful because they were faithless. There is a no more difficult journey for the believer than when he begins to travel by sight rather than by faith. As we sail upon the sea of life, even when the tempest is raging, we must trust Him, he’s the Captain of the ship!

When we are really believing the Lord, we are on a journey that involves trusting the Master of the ship come what may.

You may be going through your storm at this very moment.

TRUSTING IN GOD is the only answer!