How Can We Prepare for (and Live Through) the Storms in Life?
The movie Twister described a group of people who chased tornados in the hopes of improving their ability to forecast severe weather. But for most of us, it’s sufficient to wait for the storms that will inevitably come our way. In any church family, there will always be difficult life situations of various types impacting one or more families. From Romans 8, how can we best prepare for the storms of life, live through the storm, and then praise God after the storm has passed?
We anticipate the storm, and we predetermine our perspective through tough times. Rom 8.18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” When our lives are going well, it’s easy to forget the inevitability of hard times. But Jesus warned us (John 16.33), that we will have hard times. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The storms will rage around us, but we have confidence in the outcome.
We pray for strength to get through the storm, even when we don’t know what to pray for! Rom 8.26, 28, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words … And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called to his purpose.” It can be tough to keep your head in the middle of the storm! When the storm rages, when the very next phone call could bring the worst news, how can we know how to pray? How can we know what to pray for? In such times, God’s Spirit will take our deep groanings to the Father. And even when we can’t see it, or understand it, we believe that God is at work through the storm.
We demonstrate our faith in God through the storm. Rom 8.31-32, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Whatever the nature of the storm, whatever the cause(s) of the tough times, we have confidence that non-believers simply do not have. When co-workers or neighbors ask ‘How are you really doing? I don’t see how you can remain this calm with all that you’re facing?’ Our faith in God will bring us through every storm.