Five Things To Keep In Mind During The Storm

Hey NewSpring - yesterday was special and I've heard from lots of  people that the way we ended the service was so moving...

However...I also know how the enemy works, and that discouragement is one of his weapons of mass destruction.  I am absolutely positive that many of you may have left church yesterday so encouraged, but here you are today- seemingly still in the uncertainty a storm- wondering if you are going to make it through.  

Here are five things that help me personally when I find myself in that place.  

#1 - Jesus' Peace > My Problems 

I've seen it before... and you have as well.  People go through what looks like impossible circumstances and yet still seem to have unwavering faith.  

How do they do it?  

Jesus promised us His peace (in John 14:27), and that it would be greater than what the world gives.  

#2 - God's Truth > Enemy's Lies

Jesus Himself said the enemy is the father of lies (John 8:44), and one of the largest lies we are tempted to believe in the storm is that Jesus must not care for us very much if He is allowing us to go through this.  

However - we are reminded in I Peter 5:7 that we can cast ALL our anxiety on Him because He cares for us.  

#3 - God's Calling > My Comfort

One of the biggest pills for me to have to swallow is that God's biggest desire for my life was not for me to be as comfortable as possible; after all, Jesus didn't ask us to take up our mattress and follow Him, He asked us to take up our cross.  

As we saw yesterday in Matthew 14:27-29, Jesus called Peter out of His comfort zone and into the unknown.  

Ask yourself this question - where in the Scriptures did God ever ask anyone to do anything that was easy or made sense? 

However, His calling to it means He will see us through it...because He always finishes what He begins (Philippians 1:6). 

#4 - We > Me

We can't do life alone!!!  

Galatians 6:2 reminds us that we are to bear one another's burdens.  

James 5:16 says we should confess to each other (all so often problems could become miracles if we had the faith to ask for help!) 

Hebrews 10:24-25 says we should encourage and spur one another on!  

If you are going through a storm - isolating yourself and believing that "no one cares" or "no one will understand" is a lie from the very pit of hell!  

There are times as followers of Jesus where we need to borrow the strength of others.

#5 - What He Wants > What I Want

One of the passages I have to keep going back to over and over again is Isaiah 55:8-9, which reminds me God's thoughts and ways are so much higher than mine!  

In the past I have often viewed storms as punishment, but they were actually preparation for something greater that Jesus had for me.  

If you are in the middle of a storm, my prayer for you today is you will be encouraged by this article!  

If you are in Christ...the One who is in you really is greater than what you are going through.