Surviving the Storm

Get bottled water! Stock up on the can goods. Do we have enough batteries? Where are the candles and the matches? Do these questions sound familiar to you? When I hear them I know a storm is coming. It's time to prepare. We never know how big the storm will be or how long it will last. And after each storm we always seem to learn something new. We see what worked and what didn't. We need to keep this in mind for when the next storm comes. Life is like this, too. We all will face many storms in life. Some will be mild like rainstorms, and others will try and knock you down like a blizzard. Your actions will determine if you get buried or if you stay alive. Your faith can help you if you rely on it. There are many choices you will face as the storm approaches, during the storm, and even after the storm. Doesn't it seem wise to be prepared? So how do you prepare?

The first step is to recognize there is a storm approaching. It is best if you are not caught off guard; especially if the storm is a big one. Learn to recognize signs. Has everything been going smoothly lately? Are you embarking on a new ministry? Are you preparing to do something new? If your answer if yes, then most likely a storm is coming.

The next step is to prepare. To prepare find shelter. Find a church where you feel loved and accepted. A place where you belong. The people there will be your shelter. They will be there when the storm hits. They will make sure you don't run out of supplies. When it feels like you are starting to drown, they will pull you up out of the water. I believe this is one of the reasons God tells us to get plugged into a local body. He knows we will need them. And others will need you.
Be prepared. Dust off the Bible and read it daily. Draw encouragement and wisdom from the Psalms. Hear how David praised his God all the days of his life. Read the story of Job. A man who lost everything, but never lost his faith. See just how mighty and strong God is. Keep a journal of all the good times. It will be a handy tool to reflect upon when the lies of the storm tell you God has never helped you.

Ok, you've made it through the first two important steps. The next step is decide now that you will survive the storm. Your attitude going into a storm will determine how you weather it. Don't enter into a storm defeated and crushed. Recognize you are the child of the Creator of the universe. There is nothing to big for Him. There is nothing He can't handle. He has promised you that when you put your trust in Him, there is nothing you will go through that is too big for you to handle. Declare victory even in the middle of the storm.

Now, the storm sets in. Your next step is to rely on the previous steps. Get down on your hands and knees and pray. Cry out to your Daddy like you never have before. Don't worry if your mascara is running. Don't worry if one of your buddies sees you. Cry out to God! Ask Him to be your strength. Resist the urge to run to the phone and computer and let everyone know you are in a storm. Talk to God first. I know you will need support. I recommend that you find a couple of strong, tell it to me straight, good friends. They are the ones that will help keep you afloat and remind you to stay on track, when you start to veer off.

The most important thing is to never cease praying. Pray without ceasing like the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. Never stop bringing your petitions to God. Spend more time in His word and listening to praise music. You will be amazed when you turn on the radio and you will hear just the right song. Sing praises loudly. Nothing defeats misery like praise.

As you weather this storm, hold your head high. Just because you are getting attacked does not make you less of a person. Every believer goes through this. We all hurt, we all stumble, and we all fall. Then with the strength of our Lord we all get back up again. We are prepared to face another day.

When the storm finally does end, write about it. Remember what happened. Keep it tucked away for the next time. And most importantly thank God for keeping you through this storm. Share you testimony with others if you feel led. A lot of times God will bring others into our life who need to hear how we survived. Let me leave you with these final thoughts. Your Father in Heaven love you so much, He gave His only Son to die for YOU! He wants to hold your hand and be there for you. Allow Him to be your strength when you have nothing left. Praise Him, and thank Him every day. This is how you will survive the storm.
God bless you.