Navigating The Storms Of Life : Pastor Tony Samuels

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 Mark 4:39 (KJV)

Storms are a natural part of our weather. Even though we may not like them, we have to deal with them when they show up. So it is with life when storms show up out of nowhere. A storm in life is something that disrupts the normal flow. Storms come to try to rob you of your peace and joy… but Jesus shows us how to deal with storms. John 16:33 (AMP) says, I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding]. One of the greatest gifts Jesus gives us is His peace. When He gives you peace, it’s never to lose it. He teaches us that in the middle of a storm, we can still have peace. Peace means: a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation. This is amazing! Jesus is saying you may be in a storm, but you don’t have to experience the storm. I am going to have a place in you that storms cannot enter; it’s the place of My peace.

To navigate through storms, you must understand that the quietness in you is greater than the noise outside. Philippians 4:7 (KJV) says, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This peace guards your heart and mind. Things may fall apart around you, but the Lord will make sure you don’t fall apart.

When you watch the weather forecast and hear about the power and size of a storm, it can be intimidating. It can create a sense of concern about the safety of you and your loved ones. It can create concern about things being damaged, such as property and personal belongings, and yes, when you compare human ability to the ability of a storm, it does seem like a mismatch. So stop looking and hearing about the storm; look and see and hear about the God that has your back!

The story of Job is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible. Job definitely found himself in a storm that affected every single area of his life; but in his storm, there was a point where he met the Lord Himself in the midst of it, and it completely changed his perspective of storms. The Lord speaks to Job in Job 38:4-12 (NLT): Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’ Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? After the Lord revealed Himself to Job, Job’s perspective changed. This is what he said in Job 42:5 (NKJV): I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. If you are going to navigate through storms, you cannot just hear about God; you have to see Him for yourself. When this happens, there is no way you are going to be afraid of any storm, because you are focused on the greatness of God, not the greatness of the storm.

I leave you with this in Psalms 107:29 (TPT): God stilled the storm, calmed the waves, and He hushed the hurricane winds to only a whisper. There is no storm you are currently facing that the Lord will not conquer. Believe it… receive it… and now experience it.

Blessings To You & Yours,