Have you ever encountered a significant storm after stepping out in faith on a word from God? Don’t lose hope, because He who promised is faithful. God is taking you somewhere.
On the same day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
You may have received a word from the Lord. You may have received direction. But when you stepped out in faith, you may have also found yourself right smack in the midst of a storm. In fact, you may be experiencing one right now. That is exactly what the disciples were facing. They received a word from the Lord. “Let us cross over to the other side.” Jesus gave them specific direction and instruction. And they acted on His word. They got into a boat and began their journey to the other side. But on their way to the destination, a great windstorm arose and the waves beat into their boat, and it was filling up with water. They began to lose heart and they panicked. But Jesus was not in any way concerned or distressed. He fully intended to make it to the other side, storm or no storm. In fact, He was sound asleep on a pillow, but the disciples woke Him up.
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” Mark 4:35–40 (NKJV)
Often times, when we find ourselves in the midst of a storm, we become fearful. And sometimes we may even begin to doubt the very word we received from the Lord. We may think to ourselves, “I must not have heard the Lord, because if I did, I wouldn’t have come across this storm.” Listen very carefully: Just because you are in the midst of a storm or a trial does not necessarily mean—in and of itself—that you did not hear from the Lord. If you have a word from God, circumstances do not overrule Him. The disciples clearly had a word from the Lord, directly from Jesus. But as they began their journey they experienced a storm.
When you have a word from God, circumstances do not overrule Him
In the midst of a storm, the disciples became fearful. Jesus responded with a question.“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” In other words, even though they were facing hardship, the disciples had no reason to be fearful. Why? Because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) and they heard a word directly from Jesus. Therefore they had all the reason in the world to put their confidence in what He said regardless of the circumstances around them. 2 Corinthians 5:7 days, “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” No matter what it looks like in the natural, we are to continue walking in the light of His word. We are not to doubt what He said. We are to stay the course. And when we do, we will make it to the destination intended by God. Put your total confidence in what He said, not the storm.
Stay the course
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV)
Hold fast—hold tight—without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Whenever you receive a word from the Lord, accept it and step out in faith no matter what it looks like in the natural. Though you will likely encounter some storms on the way, do not allow your circumstances to cause you to fear or doubt the word you received from God. Hold on to your word. Do not let it go. Do not turn back. Continue in faith. God will lead you through the storm and to the other side. But if the storm causes you turn back, you may never know the blessing of where the Lord was wanting to take you.
Don’t miss out! Stay the course. The Lord is taking you somewhere.
To continue building your faith to overcome storms, please read the devotional titled, “From Tribulation To Triumph” by clicking here.
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Tristan Fenholt 