“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”
– Psalm 107:28-31
Did you know that sometimes God intentionally sends us into a storm? He is our Heavenly Father, and now and then, He will do what any good father would do and lead us through a difficult situation to teach us how to face our fears. I remember having a fear of water as a child that lasted for many years. This is not ideal for a toddler living in Southern California, as we are close to the ocean and my family would frequently visit. Because I was scared of the waves, when I was around eight years old, my father, who reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger, was determined to help me overcome my fear. We were at the beach with my friends on that particular day, and as they ran screaming toward the ocean, preparing to jump in, I stood back and encouraged them, “Have fun!” As my father watched, I’m sure he was embarrassed by his son’s cowardice, and he decided to take matters into his own hands. He snatched me up with his massive log-like arm, took me toward the ocean while I screamed, “No! No! No!” and gently but forcefully held me in the waves until I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. “You can learn to swim in those waves,” he said, assuring me that everything would be fine. Looking back, I’m grateful he helped me conquer my fear that day since surfing and playing in the waves with him and my family are some of my favorite memories. It’s important to remember, friend, that God occasionally carries you into the waters to set you free from fear to open the door to better things in your life. For example, perhaps you should have quit your job a long time ago, and being fired was His way of leading you to the sea. Whatever you’ve faced or are facing, remember that Jesus is there with you; He loves you more than you can imagine, even more than He loves Himself, which is why He sent His Son to die on the cross for you. He is a good Father, and you are His treasured and precious child; He will not abandon you in the storm because He is with you! Isn’t it wonderful news? |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for being a good father to me and releasing me from my anxieties. I am confident that if you carry me into the storm, you will bring me abundant life.
Reflection
Is there a time in your life when God has brought you through a storm? What effect did it have on you?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
One Response
Bobby, your messages always have a way of making me reflect and ponder the points you drive home… very grateful for time, effort, wisdom. Grateful that I decided to watch your grand father decades ago and to able to hear the fruits of his messages through your work. Joe S in NH…