How do we maintain our faith in Jesus Christ during the storms of our life? These storms test our faith, character and who we stand in. What help does God give us in His word regarding the storms of life?
Ephesians 4 and Mark 4:37-40 describe being in a storm.
Ephesians 4:14 KJV That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Mark 4:37-40 KJV 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
The 3 key questions many ask during the storms of life are:
- How do we deal with the storms of life
- Walk through the storms of life
- Overcome the storms of life
These 3 questions are merely the beginning of your walk with Christ. Learning how to overcome will effect many different areas of our life.
How To Deal With The Storms Of Life
Believers are not to be deceived by the lies of false teachers who peddle false doctrine that sounds good. How do we recognize truth?
John 17:17 KJV Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
We begin with a rightly translated bible. God’s word is truth. There is no other place to find absolute truth. Truth is our weapon against the lies and false doctrine of Satan (John 8:44, 1 Timothy 4:1, Ephesians 6:14).
Psalm 119:11 KJV Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Walk Through The Storms Of Life
Great storms come our way usually with no advanced warning. In the beginning the waves beat us with fear, anxiety, and doubt. This makes us feel overwhelmed and hopeless. We cry out, where is God in all of this? Is He able to help me or not? It is right here we must ask, do I know the One in whom I put my faith in? Will I fight the good fight of faith (Mark 4:37-40, 1 Timothy 6:12).
In John 6:1-14, Jesus decides to test the faith of His disciples. How does He do this? The crowd of people around Him had become hungry and needed to eat. He ask His disciple how were these people going to be fed? The disciples did not know. Did Jesus know what to do? Yes. We find Jesus already knew how He was going to solve this impossible situation (John 6:6). Jesus knows all about our storms and He is able to quiet the waves battering against us. It is we who must choose to believe God is sovereign over all Psalm 146:7-10).
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Do not try to make sense of your storm. Lean on God. Trust in God. Learn Who He is through His word.
Overcome The Storms Of Life
John 14:1-4 KJV Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Why was Jesus comforting the disciples? Jesus saw how very distressed they had become.
What had made them feel this way? Jesus keeps telling them He is going away (John 13:33,36).
How does Jesus comfort them? He tells them how to overcome what they were going to face, simply trust in God and trust in His Son.
Our boat, soul, is filled with doubt, fear, and worry. We are being attacked from all sides.
How To Overcome Your Storms
Remember this:
We became overcomers the moment we were born again (1 John 5:4). Overcoming is a reality through our faith.
Our victory does not lie within our self. Victory comes through our Lord Jesus Christ.We overcome the world by believing in Jesus the only begotten Son of God (1 John 5:5, 1 Corinthians 15:57).
Through our faith the spirit of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit come to live in us. It is the power and strength of God in us that makes us over-comers. (1 John 4:4) God uses the storms in our lives to know this. This leads us to the ultimate and final way we overcome the world.
The cross of Christ defeated Satan, sin, and death (Revelation 1:18). In being born again we have victory over death. Death and sin no longer have power over us. Satan uses the fear of death to control us. Believers have eternal life in the house of God. (1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Revelation 3:5).
I encourage you to be assured Jesus has prepared a place for you in His Father’s house. There is a place for all He has chosen as His own. He has promised to return for you and me. We are closer now than we have ever been (Romans 13:11-12). Learn to be a different kind of Christian.
