Getting through a storm

I once heard "If going through a storm draws me closer to God, then bring on the rain!"

We all go through bad times in life whether it comes in a loss of job, a divorce, or something even worse like cancer or death of a friend or loved one.  No matter how much joy and happiness we experience, we cannot escape the trials of life. I had a patient a couple weeks ago who I was telling him what all his wife needed to have done-- he began to tell me they would just sell their house & live in a tent to afford her dental work, then he went on to say God hates him.  That really struck a nerve to me--all I could do was smile & say well it could be a lot worse. I don't understand  how anyone no matter how bad of a storm they are going through can say that God hates them, after everything he has done for us. There will always be times when it all looks hopeless but that is when we need the Lord the most, whenever we are facing one of life's storms we need to turn to the Lord and let him take charge to get us through the storm.  Instead of taking it into our own hands and trying to fix it ourselves or be like my patient said " Oh he hates me" Like when Peter tried to walk on water, he saw the wind, & was afraid and began to sink, he called out to the Lord to save him, Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took ahold of him, when they got in the boat the wind stopped & Jesus asked Peter why did you doubt?  Even though we all know God is going to take care of us and everything will always work out we still find it hard to trust God in the bad times. 

In James 1:2-4 { count it all joy, my brothers, when you, meet trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it's full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.}  The testing of your faith makes us stronger in our faith.
We should not only trust God in a storm but we should praise him in the storm as well. Our divorce was the biggest storm I have been through. Although it was an awful trial to go..  our divorce brought us both back to the lord & to church where we were both saved & baptised. I didn't count our divorce as joy while we were going through it but now I see what God was doing in HIS time.  God promises to make something good out of the storms that bring devastation to your life Romans 8:28

James 1 : 5-8 {5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways}

When a storm or trial comes we have to decide to either lean on God or not. Are we going to hang on to the world in the storm or cling to the Lord. Things that we cling to in life lose their sparkle in a storm. And it's after a storm that we realize what is important in life and what is not.  James taught us that what matters most in the good times is what matters most in the bad times. 

James 1:12 { Blessed is a man who preserves under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him} James challenges us to experience the trials faithfully and once we learn to cope with the storms of life we receive the rewards God has promised us. So even if the storm does the worst and sinks us we still receive the best from the lord, even in death. Enduring trials will bring the ultimate reward. 

{6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 1:6-7}

Peter tells us to look at our trials differently. Instead of in despair we should rejoice for all the blessings God has poured out on us.

{8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,

11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. - 1 Peter 1:8-11}

The devil is looking for any and every way to stir you away from the Lord, he wants to use your suffering for you to turn on the Lord. But we have to Cling to the LORD because he will keep us safe through any storm the devil throws at us.  

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12

Drowning in life situations? Don't worry, your life guard walks on water.

Our God is bigger than any storm-- in fact he can walk in the storm. Jesus saving Peter while he attempted to walk on water proved he could save anyone in any situation. He didn't promise there wouldn't be any storms he just promised you would never have to go through a storm alone. 

Bro Jon -- Saved by Grace Ministries. 

I don't know of many people around right now that's not going through some type of storm. It could be a physical storm. It could be a mental or emotional storm. It could be a family storm or even a church storm.

Storms are good for us. Don't think I'm nuts for that word. Storms are good in that God's lessons are truly taught.
1. Trust Him and He alone. Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

2. Storms teach His timing. Just because we want a storm to end, it's His timing. It's His way of teaching us.  Psalms 46 

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

Two animals have a unique standpoint when it comes to storms. First a buffalo. Second a cow. When a storm hits, buffalo run through the storm. They are running through it to reach the end. A cow will tuck tail and run. Which are you like?  Running to get to the end or running away??