At no time in the teachings of Jesus do we find a promise to Christians that they are exempt from the struggles,
suffering, and storms of life. Rather, what we find is repeated teaching that
• God will be with us in the storms;
• God is greater than any storm;
• God will bring us through the storms of life as we trust in Him (and at times, He will choose to bring us
through a storm directly to His presence in heaven); and
• God will always use a storm for our ultimate good—to strengthen us, refine us, and cause good to come our
way—if we will trust in Him for His purposes to be accomplished in our lives.
At no time, however, are we promised a storm-free life. Our challenge is not to avert or spend our efforts avoiding
the inevitable but, rather, to set our spirits to respond to stormy times. Peter wrote this to the early church
as it faced Roman persecution:
Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
Peter's advice is not, “Here's how to escape the storm.” Rather, he tells these believers who were facing intense
times of trial solely because they were Christians, “Here's how to prepare for the trouble ahead.”
The Nature of Storms
Generally speaking, there are two types of storms: (1) ones that strike us suddenly and without warning, and
(2) storms that we see coming, often long in advance of their arrival. Both types of storms come our way. There
is no escaping them.
What causes storms? They have three origins.
1. There are storms that we create. We often hate to admit this fact, but we cause many of the problems
we face in life—sometimes willfully and out of a rebellious spirit, but often innocently and out of ignorance.
2. There are storms that are created by others. Now, far fewer storms are created by others than most
people claim. We all are prone to self-justification and attempts at blaming others for our problems. Still, there
are some storms that legitimately are caused by other people.
3. There are storms that are created by general circumstances in which no one human being or group of people
is at fault. Natural disasters, general mechanical equipment, and the wearing out or depletion of resources
are examples. A flood would be a “storm” that might be considered circumstantial.
• Identify a storm in your life that had its origin in each of these three areas:
1. Self-induced storm:
2. Storm caused by others:
3. Circumstantial storm:
• How did you feel in each of these cases? In general, how does a storm make you feel?
What God Says About Storms
The Word of God gives us seven important truths about the storms that blow into our lives:
1. Storms come to all people, Christians and non-Christians.
2. Jesus knows all about the storm in your life.
3. God doesn't always deal with the storm in the way we think He will or should.
4. Jesus always offers a word of comfort in the storm.
5. Jesus always issues a command in the midst of the storm.
6. Jesus gives us power to obey his storm-related command.
7. We always come face-to-face with important truths as the result of storms.
Many of these truths can be seen in the story of Jesus and his disciples during a stormy night in Galilee:
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the
multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. And when
evening had come, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the
wind was contrary.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him
walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But
when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord save
me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did
you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matt. 14:22–33)
As we look at the principles of God related to storms, I encourage you to keep this truth at the forefront of
your thinking: How we respond to storms is more important than determining what caused a storm. We are not
called by God to understand why storms come our way as much as we are called by God to respond to
storms in a way that causes us to grow in our trust of God and to witness to others of God's presence in our lives.
Knowing the origin of a storm may be an important clue as to what God desires to teach us from a storm, but
it is never the sole lesson God has for us. The greater lesson is always a lesson we discover by looking at what
we do when storms strike us.
Read the above passage from Matthew 14 again. Consider the response of both Jesus and the disciples to
this storm.
• What initial insights do you have into this passage?
Storms Come to All People
Storms come into the lives of the righteous as well as the unrighteous. Jesus had fed five thousand men and
their families during the day that preceded this stormy night. Then Jesus had commanded His disciples to cross
the sea while He went aside to spend time alone with His Heavenly Father. The disciples had done nothing wrong.
They were not being corrected by God for an error or sin.
You may not have done anything wrong either to cause or contribute to the storm that comes into your life. Some
storms are sent by God for purposes other than correction. These likely are storms that God allows to come
our way or impact us, as opposed to God's sending them. He will use such storms to bring about our perfection.
What the Word Says
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire,
may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6–7)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James
1:2–4)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and
character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5:3–5)
What the Word Says to Me
Jesus Knows About the Storm
Jesus knew that His disciples were in a storm. He knows when you are in a storm.
Jesus knew about the storm on the Sea of Galilee “in the natural.” The Sea of Galilee is not a large sea. Under
normal conditions, a group of men can row a boat across it in a matter of a couple of hours. Wherever Jesus was
praying, the storm was also blowing there!
Jesus also knew that this natural storm caused an “inner storm” in the lives of His disciples. He had seen them
before during a stormy time. He knew their hearts.
In times of trouble, we often ask, “Lord, where are you? Do you know what's happening to me?” The fact is, Jesus
knows exactly where you are. He knows precisely what is happening to you.
The darkness or howling of a storm do not keep God from seeing you and hearing you. He knows precisely where
you hurt, what you fear, and how helpless you feel. He knows all the details of your financial, physical, or relational
storm.
And He cares for you. He is concerned for you. He responds to you not out of your need for Him, but out of His
vast, ever-present, and unconditional love for you. God doesn't respond to the fact of the storm. He doesn't even
respond to you because of your feelings or your need within the storm. He responds to you because He loves you.
What the Word Says
[Jesus said]: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.… Do
not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6–7)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
He [the wicked] has said in his heart, “God has forgotten;
He hides His face,
He will never see it.” …
But you have seen it, for You observe trouble and grief. (Ps. 10:11, 14)
What the Word Says to Me
God's Methods Are Higher
Jesus doesn't always come to us when and in the ways we think He should.
The Bible tells us that Jesus sent His disciples away in a boat and was alone with the Father “when evening
came.” He did not come to them on the stormy sea until the “fourth watch,” which is the time from 3:00 AM to 6:00
AM. The disciples no doubt would have preferred that Jesus come to them the instant the storm struck them. They
certainly would have preferred for Him to arrive before they were completely worn out from eight or more hours
of rowing! Jesus, however, came to them at precisely the moment when He knew that His purposes in their lives would
be accomplished.
Indeed, we have no mention in this story that the disciples cried out to Jesus prior to His arrival or that
they had used their faith in any way during their struggle against the storm's winds and waves. We need to cry
sooner, as opposed to later, when storms strike. God does not respond to our need (or to the intensity of our need),
but He does respond to our faith.
Furthermore, Jesus came in a way that was totally unexpected by His disciples. He appeared to them walking on
water, something they had never seen before. They were so startled and frightened by the method Jesus used that
they cried out, “It is a ghost!”
We sometimes miss seeing Jesus in the midst of our troubled times because we aren't expecting Him to show up
in the way that He comes to us. We must recognize always that God's methods and ways are of His choosing.
They are often beyond our ability to understanding them fully or to anticipate them according to rational means.
Our God is a miracle-working God. He reveals His presence, His power, and His solutions to us in amazing, awe-inspiring
ways. We are to look for Him at all times and in all things so that we don't miss His arrival.
What the Word Says
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me. (Ps. 55:16)
What the Word Says to Me
A Word of Comfort
Jesus always gives a word of encouragement and comfort to us.
Regardless of the intensity of the storm or how ominous the trouble, Jesus' word to us is always a word of encouragement.
His is not an idle word of optimism. Rather, it is a word of power and strength. The encouraging word that Jesus
speaks to us in the secret place of our heart is a sure reality—it does come to pass!
As the disciples struggled in their storm, the word of Jesus to them was this, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do
not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27). Jesus speaks the same message to us: “Be glad. I'm here. Don't be afraid.” Regardless
of what Jesus may say to you about your storm or about actions you are to take to endure or turn the tide of trouble
coming against you, He will always assure you of His presence with you.
What the Word Says
[Jesus said]: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John
16:33b)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
[Jesus said]: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
[Jesus said]: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)
What the Word Says to Me
Jesus Gives a Command
Jesus always gives a command in the midst of the storm. He gives a directive in every storm situation we find
in the New Testament. His command is either to the storm or to us. On one occasion, Jesus spoke directly to a storm,
saying, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39). When Jesus walked to His disciples on a stormy sea, He gave a command to
Peter, “Come!”
In your time of tribulation, you can always be assured that Jesus is either going to rebuke the trouble (including
dealing with a troublemaker), or He is going to call you to do something in the midst of the trouble that will
strengthen, purify, or otherwise change you. Look for His command!
Our part is this: during stormy times, we must do the following:
• Turn to God, putting our eyes squarely on Him and not on the storm.
• Ask God, “What do You want me to do?” Ask, “Am I to use my faith against this storm? Am I to grow in
trust by riding out this storm?”
• Do what God tells you to do. The acid test of faith is always obedience. It is not enough to hear God's
command in the storm. We must obey His command.
What the Word Says
(Read Mark 4:35–38)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a
great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly,
and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:39–41)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye. (Ps. 32:8)
What the Word Says to Me
Power to Obey
The Holy Spirit empowers and equips us to carry out God's commands. He gives us the courage, the strength, and
the ability we need to act in obedience.
Jesus said to Peter, “Come!” And then He granted to Peter the ability to walk on water to Him. Peter did not
have that ability in himself. He had never walked on water before, and we have no evidence that he walked on water
after that night. Peter was enabled to walk on water in direct response to Jesus' command.
Do not hesitate to obey what God tells you to do in the midst of your trouble or trial. He will enable you to
carry out His command.
If He tells you to endure in patience … He will give you the strength to endure in patience.
If He tells you to speak to your storm with faith … He will make your faith effective in calming the storm.
Whatever God commands you to do, He will equip you to do. Your part is to obey.
What the Word Says
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of
the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God.… Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's message
to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the LORD.” (Haggai 1:12–13)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
“This shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.” (Zech. 6:15b)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
This what I commanded them, saying, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk
in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.” (Jer. 7:23)
What the Word Says to Me
Discovery in Storms
It is in storms that we often discover the most important truths of our lives.
I can guarantee you that Peter never forgot the night that He walked on water. He also never forgot what He
learned from Jesus that night:
• Jesus was preparing him for his future.
• Jesus was revealing His absolute power over all things.
• Jesus was building up his faith.
• Jesus was bringing him to the point where, along with the other disciples, he would say, “Truly You are the
Son of God.”
I do not know all of the lessons God may teach you as you experience storms, trials, tribulations, and difficulties
in your life. I do not know the precise lessons that you will encounter in pain, suffering, and trouble. I do know
this: God will always reveal to you something about Himself that will build you up in your inner person and prepare
you for greater days ahead.
His lesson to you will be uniquely for you. The lesson someone else experiences out of the same storm
may not be the lesson that God is giving to you. Look for what He is speaking to your heart and what He is doing
in your life.
Most importantly, don't miss out on the lesson that God has for you in the storm. Don't just ride out the storm
and then forget what has happened to you. God has a purpose in every storm, and one of those purposes is to change
some aspect of your life so that you become more like Jesus.
What the Word Says
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths. (Ps. 25:4)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.…
He fashions their hearts individually. (Ps. 33:13, 15a)
What the Word Says to Me
Our Response to Storms
God's desire for us is that we turn to Him during a time of trouble and keep our eyes focused squarely on Him.
We are to continue to praise Him and to thank Him for His faithfulness to us. In all things, we are to give God
praise and honor and glory.
Many people who are hit with trouble respond in one of these ways:
• Ignore God. They turn all of their attention to the trial or storm and never think to consult God
• Blame God. They never consider the full purposes of God in the storm or even the origin of the storm
• Rebel against God. They often take the attitude, Why serve God if this is what happens?
The Christian is called to do just the opposite: We are to turn to God the instant that trouble hits, ask God
to reveal all that He desires to reveal about the origin, nature, and response we are to have against the storm,
and trust God to bring about His good purposes in our lives both during and as the result of the storm.
Praise God regardless. He is at work in storms and in fair-weather times!
What the Word Says
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.… Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving
thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph. 5:17–20)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth;
Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude. (Ps. 109:30)
What the Word Says to Me
Take a few minutes to reflect upon a storm you are currently experiencing or one that you know another person
is experiencing. Then respond to these questions:
• What new insights from God's Word do you have about a storm you may be experiencing?
• In what ways do you believe God is seeking to encourage you by these passages from His Word that you have
studied?
• In what ways are you being challenged to encourage others? Is there a specific person to whom the Lord
is directing you to give this word of encouragement—perhaps someone going through a stormy time?
From Sharing the Gift of Encouragement
by Charles Stanley. Copyright 1998 by Charles Stanley.
