Discipleship 101: Following Jesus With FriendsSample

Where Do You Find Peace?

How do you find peace when everything swirls around you?

The disciples followed Jesus into the boat before they realized a storm was on the way. Once the storm started, they quickly looked for Jesus, wanting to know what to do next. They felt helpless and wondered if they would survive the storm. What was Jesus doing? Sleeping.

As storms impact your life, how do you respond? What do those in your circle of influence notice? You may not be asleep, like Jesus, but your actions and words express what you believe about Jesus and who He is in the middle of a storm.

How could a storm become an opportunity to invite someone to follow Jesus with you?

Here are a few ideas of how to use the storms to encourage others to follow Jesus with you:

• Be vulnerable.

As you share your story of difficulty, express what conversations with God sound like during this time. Sometimes people may know in theory that the Lord wants them to trust Him in the middle of a storm, but to hear someone else share what this could look like may give this theory the hands and feet they need to take the next step themselves.

• Ready to answer.

Our difficulties often permit others to ask curious questions about our responses. Do you know what you’ll say as they ask? Are you ready to answer the hope you have? (1 Peter 3:15).

• Willing to listen.

Stories often invite more stories. As you share about the storms you’re journeying through, there may be a moment where your friend discloses the storm they are going through. What if this is a divine opportunity to pray together?

You don’t need to wait until difficult storms pass before you invite someone to follow Jesus with you. Instead, Jesus uses these moments to display His glory and peace through you.