Proverbs 18:10 The LORD is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe.

If life was without storms, what would we learn? I’ve lived my life according to this motto, “God isn’t interested in our comfort, but in our transformation.” Our natural instinct as humans is to create comfort for our lives, and when we don’t experience that comfort, we experience all kinds of unnecessary stress.
Here is my insight into the Bible passage from Luke chapter 8. The disciples were frantically waking Jesus, as he slept peacefully in the boat while a vicious storm raged all around them. His action of rest created anxiety for the disciples; yet to Him is who is in control of all things, there was no anxiety. I believe God is trying to teach us that in the eye of the storm our position should be rest, and trust, not control and anxiety.
How is it humanly possible to rest and trust when the storms of life ensue. When finances are so tight that we have no idea how we will honor our next payments or put food on our tables. Or, when the workload is so large there is no way you can do everything in the hours God has provided. When your family members have moved far from the Lord and are doing things that you never dreamed, they would ever do. Start by praying, “Father what am I to learn”? and, then release control and rest.
In every storm we need to find where we have a responsibility for the creation of the storm; we must take responsibility for our own actions that have caused the trouble. If we don’t do this, we will continue to create the same issues over and over again. God is a just and good Father. He will not take away our freedom of choice, even if it means we are hurting ourselves and others. When we have discovered the door that we have opened to create the storm, we need to repent. Repent means to ask for forgiveness and then, more importantly, to take steps to learn from our mistakes and start to make changes. God will walk with us step by step as we make these changes. God honors even the smallest steps we make to change. Once we take those small steps forward, He comes quickly beside us and says “Rest and trust, we will do this together”.
There will always be storms in life. Learning and resting through them is only one piece of the puzzle, the other is endurance. We need to be prepared to endure. In order to endure, preparation is required in many facets. Your first means of defense is in the spiritual part of your being. You need to know God intimately; you can’t trust someone you don’t know. Spend time in the Word and in conversation with God daily; it is the only way to know Him intimately. You also need to be physically prepared. The only way for you to succeed in this arena is to exercise, eat healthily and rest well every day. And don’t forget your emotional health. This comes from keeping your relationships healthy and your mind focused on what God says about who you are. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But in the storms of life, these are things that are almost impossible to keep intact. So, don’t wait for the storm; endurance requires daily practice in order to succeed
Last, but, not least, you need the family of God to encourage you and strengthen you and show you God’s love, You need someone (spouse, family member or friend) who loves you enough to show you where you need correction. They need to keep you accountable, especially as you walk through this storm. Isolation is a natural reaction to troubling times. I know, because I, myself, want only to hide under the covers of my comfortable bed whenever I experience a storm. Who wants to face a storm; no one!
It won’t get any better in the dark. Only when the storm is brought into the light will it fade into a sunshiny day with a rainbow to remind you of God’s promise.
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April, 2019