Faith in the Storm

God Uses Storms to Provide Direction

The Lord allows “storms”, seasons of difficulty to arise in our life to move us for His purposes.

Jesus actually took His disciples into the storm, “Let us go across to the other side.” (v. 35).

The Lord allows “storms”, seasons of difficulty to arise in our life to move us for His purposes.

In the OT we are given the example of Jacob and his sons facing great difficulty in a famine.

- Jacob thought Joseph was dead.

In the midst of the famine he sent his 10 sons (not Benjamin) to Egypt for food.

They unknowingly meet Joseph who is 2nd in command under Pharoah. After threatening them, he sends them back with food, but keeps The brother’s reported back to Jacob.

(ESV) “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land.”

(ESV) “Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.”

(ESV)

Jacob’s response to the bad news, (ESV) “And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.”

30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land.

The storms of life may actually be God’s source of provision.

30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

Life’s trials may be be for the purpose of moving us

Jacob thought that the storms of life were aligned against him, in reality they were working to move him and his family to the place of God’s provision.

36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.”

God allows trials to teach us to look to Him for direction.

Joseph said, (ESV) “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

R (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

(ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God Uses Storms to Produce Humility

Our greatest strengths may become sources of pride.

At least one third of the disciples were experienced sailors and knew the Sea.

They probably were confident in their ability to weather a little storm, but this was no typical windstorm.

God will not work through our pride.

God allows trials to teach us to depend on Him.

Paul was given a thorn in the flesh that he asked God to remove 3 times.

(ESV) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(ESV)

Paul said it was given to keep him humble.

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It is in our weakness that God’s strength is revealed.

God Uses Storms to Reveal His Power

God uses storms to teach us to trust Him.

Jesus was calmly asleep in the midst of the storm, because He confidently trusted in the Father’s providence.

At least the disciples knew to turn to Jesus, but they still lacked faith that he could help.

Jesus has the power to rebuke the storm and bring peace to our lives.

(ESV)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”