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4. Life's Storms

"When Facing Lifes Storms"
Cling to Jesus

Life's storms need not overwhelm you. Learn how to cling to Jesus when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm you. 

Mark 4:35-41 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.

Jesus Himself 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?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down, and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

My friend Bob describes being enveloped by angels as he sat at the bedside of his wife who had just past from this life into eternity. The presence of the glory of God overwhelmed him and gave him courage in his hour of need.

My son’s fiancé lost her daughter and niece a year ago when a parole violator fleeing from the police struck them down as they were crossing the street. These two young mothers have clung to their faith in Christ in the midst of a raging storm.

Out of this tragedy has come support from the community, donations to many children’s organizations and random acts of kindness in the name of the two beautiful girls who are now in heaven cheering on the saints with the Lord.

I observed as these sweet women celebrated the lives of their precious daughters with a serenity that can only come when one has unwavering trust in God. Their faith has given them the courage they need to carry on until death reunites them with their beautiful daughters. They will profoundly touch society because of God's Grace that they walk in each day.

My friend’s son was recently in a 4 wheeler accident where he received massive head trauma. The next week was a blur as he lay in intensive care. But each CT scan and each MRI brought encouraging news, and now he is home from the hospital, recuperating miraculously. My friend thanks God for the miracle of his life and knows this trial will forever change their life and their faith.

I went through betrayal and a divorce after 28 years of marriage. One Sunday in a church service shortly after the breakup someone sang the song "People Need the Lord." I wept as I realized how badly we need the Lord to help us through our life storms. I committed my heart to telling those I come in contact with that Jesus loves them so much, and cares about their troubles.

That ordeal changed my life forever, and I found that each trial was somehow designed to bring us closer to the Lord and build our faith.

The Scripture in Mark 4 tells us that Jesus beckoned the disciples to get in the boat with Him and they were obedient to follow his instructions. Jesus used the storm to test their faith.

1 Peter 1 speaks of the sanctifying work of the Spirit to bring obedience to Jesus Christ into our lives.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (l Peter 1:6-9).

S. J. Hill, one of my Bible College instructors, teaching on the love of God, says, that when going through one of life's storms, “trust is the only thing we can do when nothing else makes sense. Ruthless trust is what intimacy with the Father is all about.” He recommends the book Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning, and I also recommend his book if intimacy with Father God is a desire of your heart.

May you learn to trust His hand and obediently follow after Him. May you cling to Jesus when life's storms threaten to overwhelm you.

Patricia Harris 

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