Say to the StormIhe Atụ

I find this odd comfort in knowing that good, God-loving people in the Bible had problems. It makes me feel normal. David, for example, said, “Hey, I’m walking through a dark valley,” and let us know that he had enemies around him, needed protection, and longed for comfort. But, as though he’d already read the then-unwritten New Testament, David follows our lesson from yesterday.

In Psalm 23 David starts out by saying “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Boom. Period. End of sentence. But then, as if those worrisome thoughts started creeping up, he kept reminding himself that even though life is tough, even though his enemies are around him, look what the Lord has done and is doing!

The Bible never promised a storm-free life. We live in a trouble-filled world. But Jesus addresses this in John 16:33, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” And, again, we’re reminded in 1 John 4 that “You belong to God… the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in this (trouble-filled, sometimes crazy) world.”

So what, then, do we do when we face hardships? I mean, this entire study is about being in a storm and we’ve yet to discuss our tornado shelter! Watch for the all-caps command words in these verses about dealing with storms—otherwise known as burdens and cares:

Philippians 4:6-7 – DON’T WORRY about anything, instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING, TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED AND THANK HIM FOR ALL HE HAS DONE. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. He will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 – GIVE ALL YOUR WORRIES AND CARES TO GOD, for He cares about you.

Matthew 11:28 – COME TO ME (JESUS), all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 6:33 – SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, and He will give you everything you need.

James 4:7 – RESIST THE DEVIL, and he will flee from you.

Psalm 91:9-10 If you MAKE THE LORD YOUR REFUGE, if you MAKE THE MOST HIGH YOUR SHELTER, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.

Do you notice that the answer to a prayer is AFTER each command? When a storm crosses your path, read these verses and our lesson from yesterday, act, and believe the promises.