When God Guides You Right Into a Storm - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 17

When God Guides You Right Into a Storm
By Christine Perry

"On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling." - Mark 4:35-37 NKJV

Have you ever been following God, and one bad thing after another takes place? Have you ever stopped, looked around, and wondered if you missed a sign or took a wrong turn? If so, don't worry; you're in good company. Remember David? David waited fifteen years from when he was anointed king to when he became the king! Can you imagine how often he must have asked the Lord, "Did Samuel really anoint me to be king? Or was that just a fluke? Because Saul doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon." 

Initially, David had hope. Remember, he played in the palace for Saul. So, he was undoubtedly encouraged, knowing that he was at least working in the palace and getting acclimated to his surroundings and with Saul and his family. But then, the bottom dropped out. King Saul lost it, kicked David out, and then spent considerable time hunting David down to kill him. I am not sure about you, but I would have questioned. "Lord, was that You? Or am I making something up? Are You sure I'm supposed to be king? Because we are getting further away from any hope of becoming king."

What does David do? Well, we have many of the Psalms to tell us. First, David poured his heart out to God. Psalm 38:9 says, "Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You." Over and over and over, David bears his soul to God. God sustains him, gives him strength, and keeps him steady. Eventually, David became king. The Lord was in charge the whole time — just like He was when He told the disciples to go across to the other side. And in the midst of their travels, a storm blew in. Jesus knew this was going to happen. The storm didn't take Him by surprise, friends; our storms don't take Him by surprise, either. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
So, why do you think God allows us to go into a storm? Why did He send the disciples right into the storm? Verse 38-41 gives us the answer, "But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?' And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, 'Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!'" Because they were in the storm, they saw Jesus' power. If they didn't experience the magnitude of the storm, they wouldn't know the strength of their savior! 

Look at the saints before us and the tests they went through. Moses spent ample time in the desert, and then over and over and over again, he had to go back to God to see what other signs God wanted to do. Yet, God kept hardening Pharaoh's heart. Moses would need this training when he returned to the desert with the Israelites. Moses became closely acquainted with God. If you don't believe me, read Exodus and underline every verse that says, The Lord spoke to Moses. Then God tested Abraham with Isaac. After that trial, Abraham knew God as a provider. And after God tested Job, he said, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You" Job 42:5 NKJV. In the storms, God shows us things about Himself that we couldn't learn any other way. He doesn't just want us to know Him in theory. He wants us to know Him experientially. 

Further Reading: 
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Torsten Dederichs

Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website:  Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Related Resource: How Habit Stacking Will Help You Discipline Your Mind, Body, & Spirit 

The process of success is not hidden. It is on display for anyone to see. However, it is a daily grind that requires a great deal of work that is tedious and often uncomfortable. Successful people simply do the work. They embrace the grind and everything that comes with it. Ultimately, successful people understand this truth - Hope doesn’t produce change. Habits do! Everyone has the desire, but many lack the necessary discipline! That’s why today on The Built Different Podcast we have a very special guest who understands the importance of discipline and habits at a very high level. Don’t just focus on changing the thoughts in your head and the habits in your life, but also allow God to transform your heart from the inside out. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Built Different Podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube so you never miss an episode!