If the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore ever shows up in your hometown, you know it’s either time to batten down the hatches or get the heck out of Dodge! Severe weather warnings have become so advanced these days that meteorologists are often able to pinpoint precisely when and where the worst impact of a storm will be felt.

But what about those storms of life that hit with absolutely no warning at all? When the waves of worry rise and fall with the diagnosis and ineffective treatments of a terminal illness, or when the powerful winds of someone else’s decisions destroy the foundation of your carefully constructed hopes and dreams, or when the thunder and lightning of violence and terror seem to fill the face of the earth? How does a follower of Jesus Christ respond to these very difficult emotional and often physical storms?

As is always the case, God’s Word provides clear guidance for the challenges we face as His people. The starting place for dealing with trials is to recognize that they are a part of our human existence and in some mysterious way intended for our good and God’s glory. As counter-cultural as it is, God’s counsel to us through scripture is to prayerfully meet difficulties with joy and gratitude because they are shaping us more into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 

And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”     

James 1:2-4

 

 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though

something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that

you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed . . .  But let none of you suffer as a

murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not

be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name . . . let those who suffer according to God’s will

entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”      1 Peter 4:12-19

 

 These teachings are hard…so very hard. They can sound empty to those who may never have experienced God’s faithfulness through a difficult life storm, so we must share these truths with sensitivity. But those of us who have clung desperately to the Lord during trials have found His Word to be true. “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father…”

 Scripture also clearly teaches that it’s okay to ask why bad things happen, to question the sovereign design of the loving Heavenly Father. Like the psalmist and Christ Jesus Himself, though, we only find peace as we question from a position of trust and submission.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? . . .

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;  my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,  because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

Psalm 13:1-6

 “Return, O my soul, to your rest;  for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you . . .  

 I believed, even when I spoke: ‘I am greatly afflicted.’”

Psalm 116:7-10

 

“’Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. 

Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’”

Luke 22:42

 

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means,

‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

Mark 15:34

 

The guidelines from scripture may be clear, but without the help of the Holy Spirit, we are helpless to follow them faithfully.   Our natural selves want to turn from God and to ourselves instead. We want to rehearse our grievances and pain over and over instead of giving them to the Lord for healing. We want to share our sufferings with others so they’ll take pity on us, instead of dwelling in the presence of the friend who sticks closer than a brother . . . or at least I confess that I often do.

As we devote ourselves to prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking godly counsel, we’ll find–through His grace– the storms of life steering our lives into closer communion with God the Father through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

May we, like the 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon, whose life was full of suffering,  learn “to kiss the waves that throw [us] up against the Rock of Ages” as we weather life’s storms. (For more on Spurgeon’s approach to suffering, here’s a link to the article “The Anguish and Agonies of Charles Spurgeon”)

May we, like novelist, theologian, and Christian apologist C. S. Lewis recognize that “He is the artist, and [we] are only the picture.  [We] can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted.”

May we, like author, pastor, and self-described Christian hedonist John Piper rest in the fact that “[Our] desire to be happy and God’s desire to be glorified are not at odds, but one amazing pursuit.”

Almighty God, help us be good stewards of the storms of life we face.  Grant us by Thy Spirit determination and commitment to You and Your perfect ways.  Help us emerge from trials loving You even more than before; more aware of Your grace, righteousness, and compassion; more disciplined in our walk with You; more determined to keep our promises to You; more public in our testimony of Your faithfulness; more and more and more like Jesus and drinking even more deeply from the blessed cup of salvation.  Amen.