Jesus Will Get You Through This

MATT. 14:22-33; 1PET. 1:13

(Also See Mk. 6:45-56)

SUBJECT: TRIALS AND ADVERSITIES

During the Storms of Life, We must Maintain Our Faith in a Caring God Who Uses Trials to Strengthen Our Character and Deepen Our Commitment to Him and His Word. 

Since storms are a common part of every one of our individual and collective experiences, we should learn how to view them from God’s perspective, and how to respond to them to receive the maximum benefit.  Either we are in a storm, coming out of a storm or on our way back into another storm; it would behoove us to know something about trusting the Lord unwaveringly through them.  We need to prepare ourselves for the storms ahead.  Nothing exposes, examines, and strengthens our character like a storm!

Never allow yourself to doubt His ability to take you through the storms. Always remember, if God brought you to it...then He will get you through it. He indeed will escort and graciously lead you through this storm as you trust Him. 

God Never Promises us an Exemption from Life's Storms.

At no time in the teachings of Jesus do we find a promise to Christians that we are exempt from the struggles, sufferings, and storms of life. Rather, what we repeatedly find is the teaching that:

     *  God will be with us in the storms;

     *  God is greater than any storm;

     *  God will bring us through the storms of life as we trust in Him (and at times, He will choose to bring us through a storm directly to His presence in heaven); and

     *  God will always use a storm for our ultimate good—to strengthen us, refine us, and cause good to come our way—if we will trust in Him for His purposes to be accomplished in our lives.(Stanley)

At No TimeAre We Promised a Storm-free Life; It Does Not Matter How Committed We Are.

    *   Our challenge is not to avert or spend our efforts avoiding the inevitable

    *   But, rather, to set our hearts and minds to respond to stormy times in faith

    *   Peter writes this to the early churches as they faced Roman persecution:

1Peter 1:13, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

Peter’s advice is not, “Here's how to escape the storm.” Rather, he tells these believers who were facing intense times of trials solely because they are Christians, “Here's how to prepare for the trouble ahead.”

First, though we need to understand something about the nature or essential character of storms.

FIRST NOTE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORMS....  

Matthew 14:24, But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Genuine disciples of our Lord Jesus were facing a great storm that threaten their lives. It was the Lord Jesus' idea for them to get into the boat to proceed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This storm suddenly came upon them as they were executing the very will and plan of God for them. That is correct, being obedient is not an effective way of averting storms. Sometimes we face storms because we have been obedient. Obviously, the Master and Captain of our seas has a holy purpose for the storms of life. You may also recall that He meet with His disciples in the middle of this storm.  I would like to also call your attention to the fact that Jesus got them through this storm! The wonderful news is He will do the same for His children today as we trust Him.

A.  UNDERSTAND THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF STORMS

Generally speaking, there are two types of storms:

     1.  Storms That Strike Us Suddenly and Without Warning. These are not anticipated and there are little or no warnings. They include a sudden accident, a natural disaster, and perhaps a heart attack. Before we know it we are in the middle of such storms struggling to survive. Then after the initial storm there are long months of recovery, therapy, and reconstruction.  

     2.  Storms That We See Coming, Often Long in Advance of Their Arrival. This would include the young man who started out great in church, reading the Word, and walking with the Lord, but at about thirteen he starts missing church, hanging out in the wrong places, experimenting with drugs, and now at the ripe old age of 23 is serving time in the federal prison for homicide. We could just about anticipate where life was heading for him when he started neglecting basic spiritual disciplines. Long before the storm came we could see the clouds gathering on the horizon....

     3.  Both Types of Storms Come Our Way. There Is No Escaping Them. It is important to recognize that unanticipated and anticipated storms will be woven into the fabric of our lives. This much we can bank on in a broken world. While we want to keep them to a minimum by avoiding foolish mistakes, we cannot avoid them altogether. The best thing to do is adopt a perspective that helps us cope because the storms certainly will come (1Pet. 1:3). 

B.  REALIZE ALL STORMS HAVE A CAUSE 

What causes storms? Generally speaking they have four origins.

    1. There Are Storms That We Create.

We often hate to admit this fact, but we cause many of the problems we face in life:

         A.  Sometimes Willfully and out of a Rebellious Spirit

         B.  But Often Innocently and out of Ignorance

         C.  Sometimes Our Personality Gets Us into Troubles and Complications

       

    2. There Are Storms That Are Created by Others.

        A.  This Is Not an Endorsement for Blame-Shifting.

Really far fewer storms are created by others than most people claim. We all are prone to self-justification and attempts at blaming others for our problems.

        B. There are Genuine Instances Where the Failures and Actions of Others Hurt Us Directly.

Yes, there are some storms that are legitimately caused by other people.  Terrorism on 9/11 created a national storm for the United States of America and we are still feeling the winds and aftershocks today.

    3. There Are Storms That Are Created by General Circumstances.

 In these cases no one human being or group of people are at fault.

          * Natural disasters, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados etc.

          * General mechanical equipment failures,

          * And the wearing out or depletion of resources are examples

          * A flood would be a “storm” that might be considered circumstantial  

          * Some of the wide fires in California and the Midwest may be more circumstantial than divine judgments

    4.  There are Storms Which are Divine Testings.

2 Chron. 32:29-31, Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. [30] This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.  [31] Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (See also 2Kings 20:12-20)

Obviously the Lord was behind the testings in the king's life because of a specific moral failure.

              A.  Testing Can Bring out Our True Character.

                   1.  God tested Hezekiah to show him what he was really like and to show him his own shortcomings and the attitude of his heart.

                   2.  God did not totally abandon Hezekiah, nor did he tempt him to sin, or trick him.

                   3.  The test was meant to strengthen Hezekiah, develop his character, and prepare him for the tasks ahead.

                   4. The Bible teaches and explains God’s wholesome motives in permitting testing.

a. God does Evaluate us through testing, Deut. 8:2.

b. God permits testing to prove our loyalty and love for Him, Deut. 13:1–4.

c. God builds Confidence in His people in the dark episodes of life, Isaiah 50:10.

              B.  In Times of Calm, Many of Us Can Live a Good and Obedient Life.

1.      Have you ever heard the expression, “He sure talks a good walk”? Often what we say does not line up with our life. We might even begin to believe that we are more mature than we actually are when things are going well. 

2.      But, God does not want us to live with an inflated perception of our spiritual and moral strength. He uses storms to remove such illusions. 

3.      Are there any areas in your Christian life where your talk is better than your walk?  God may use a test or trial to help you discover these areas. 

4.      What steps can we take to bring our claims in line with our action?  God may use a trial to give us the commitment to find such answers.

              C. But Pressure, Trouble, Or Pain Will Quickly Reveal Our True Level Of Maturity. 

                        1. The Storms will remove our thin veneer of goodness unless our strength truly comes from a strengthening devotion and love for God.

                        2. APPLICATION:  What are you like under pressure or when everything is going wrong? Do you give in or turn to God? Those who are constantly in touch with God do not have to worry about what pressure may reveal about them. 

                        3. ILLUSTRATION:  We are sometimes like a tube of toothpaste, when life puts the squeeze on us, whatever is in us will come out!  If we are indeed filled with godly patience, peace, joy, and faith then the ‘squeeze’ will make this evident. 

                        4. But, if we are filled with anger, weak resolve, frustration, resentment, jealousy, and rage then the pressure will cause this to spill out also.

                        5. QUOTE: “What is true will remain true, even in suffering. We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly?” — Handbook on Bible Application

                        6. God wants to make us mature and complete, but not to keep us from all pain.

                                    a. Do not complain about your struggles; see them as opportunities for growth.

                                    b. Thank God for promising to be with you in tough times.

                                    c. Ask the Lord to help you solve your problems and give you strength to endure the challenges you must face.

                                    d. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; he will stay close and help you grow. Beloved, He will get you through the darkness of your storm. He will manifest Himself in ways you did not realize, and you will love and appreciate Him more because you shared a difficult and painful season together. Nothing knits our hearts to others like enduring common problems or enduring them together. The Lord provides this for us all the way through each storm if we trust Him for it.                                                     
Remember Paul's words to Timothy; the Lord God has already given us a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. He actually seeks to strengthen these qualities in our lives to enhance their multiplied benefits to us. Second Timothy 1:7, actually says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Your response to every storm or situation that you face is to be in God's power, God's love, and with God's mind. Again He will get you through this storm also. 

When you are gripped by your fears in the middle of your storm, turn your gaze upon Christ--look to Him, redirect your heart to love, and constantly speak truth (God's Promises) to yourself and your storms or fears from the Word of God! Then with a soul full of confidence in God providence and care respond boldly to the storm that caused your fear. Let your actions be marked with trust and dependence on His love, grace, power, and wisdom. Do not feed your fears, instead feed your faith with the Word of the Lord. Never, never, never allow yourself to doubt or question His ability to get you through your storms. The Lord's plan for you is power, love, and a sound mind! Beloved, “be strong and of good courage.” (Josh. 1:5–9) The Lord Jesus will meet with you and get you through this also.