Text- Psalm 93:4 – “The LORD rules supreme in heaven, greater than the roar of the ocean, more powerful than the waves of the sea.”
Over the years, people have said a lot about how to survive the “storms of life”. Indeed, the Earth is a raging sea full of violent storms… great and boisterous winds are blowing; even as believers, we face trials, temptations, persecutions and the likes. These are like contrary winds!
As you move higher in life, you will find out that the sea keeps getting rougher, and men are all the more being distressed by the waves. Countless men have drowned in the storms of life while they strived to cross to the other side. No wonder, they say that life is all about the survival of the fittest!
In the next few days, I want to show you the different ways people respond to the storms of life. We will learn from Biblical examples and make conclusions that will help us approach the raging sea better.
Our first example will be taken from the story of Jonah. Please follow closely: This was when Jonah was running away from God, and boarded a ship on His way to Tarshish. Because of Jonah’s disobedience, God sent a great wind on the sea. We read in Jonah 1 from verse 4:
“Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo (everything they were carrying) into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck (to the inmost part of the sheep), where he lay down to take a nap.”
Here, Jonah was the problem in the ship, but he was deeply asleep in the deepest parts, while the goods were being wasted. This is the way some people respond to the storms of life. They retain the shame at the expense of the glory! They keep Jonah in the inmost part of their lives and begin to throw away all the cargo!
Reading on from verse 11 of Jonah 1
“The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before... Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.”
Whenever you face storm in life, your first point of call is to do self-examination, and do away with all forms of rebellion, disobedience, and hardness of heart if there be any. Then, and only then, will you be fit to face the storms and come out victorious.
PRAYERS:
1. Father, I repent of all forms of rebellion, disobedience, and hardness of heart in my life. Forgive me Lord in Jesus Name.
2. I will not be overwhelmed by the storms of life. I will always come out victorious in Jesus Name.
3. I will not retain shame at the
Image Credit:preachit.org