In the Eye of the Storm

During last week’s discussion, we have learned that storms of life come and go… but Jesus no matter what still remains beside us. He is walking along with us always and carrying us in His arms when the going gets tough.

This week’s sermon is a continuation of what we need to understand about the storms of life. We will look through the reasons and purposes behind every trial we face as Christians. Should we really have to always be negative about the bad things we experience? Or is there a purpose all behind it?

In the eye of the storm, there are depressing truths about it that we need to disregard and there are good things about it that we should consider.

I. Storm comes in path of obedience. Being a Christian and being with God doesn’t promise us a good life but a life of struggle in the widest battleground. The more we obey, the more we are tested of our faith and our perseverance to continue. This doesn’t mean though that God makes us miserable in payment of the promised salvation upon accepting Him in our life. This just makes us endure the world and still see the goodness amidst every strike face.

II. Storm makes it appear that Jesus doesn’t care. This is how we usually react on every problem we face. We take it as misfortunes. We call it an unreasonable phenomenon of retribution for our disobedience. We feel that God doesn’t care at all.
Remember when Jesus had to die in the cross of Calvary? And he even asked the Lord, Eli Eli lama sabachthani? But did the Lord really did forsake Him?
We always react unconstructive as we deal with life’s challenges. Because we don’t focus our sight to the glory of the Lord that’s why we are easily moved by small predicament we encounter along our walk in life. We panic very easily. We forget that we have Lord that could always take us and save us from whatever despair. Why not we think of peace instead panic?

III. Storm reveals the real enemy. Look through. If we are going to tie everything together, what make us quit are our own dealings with storms we face. Our FEAR, FAITHLESSNESS and HOPELESSNESS are what drive us uncomfortable with every bit of test we have. Because we look at the big waves, we are shrinking. If we only continue focusing to our God, we will not see all these problems and we will then be not move by it.

IV. Storm drives us to Jesus. During storms, many have nothing to run to but God. And so many pray and get their hope from it. If we try to look at it, God sometimes has to take all that we have in order for us to see Him. The fact is, many people are being blinded by everything that they have, thinking that we, all by ourselves can get through life. But our God is a jealous God. And sometimes He has to make things that will make His goodness appear right our very eye.

V. Storm always reveals something new about Jesus. In every trial we face, Jesus has something new to reveal. Aside from new learning we get from it, we also see how He is so magnificent and able to wash our every troubled mind. He reveals how big is our God and that even storms calm just by His word.
God embraces us no matter what.

It maybe so very hard facing difficulties in life. But at the end of the day, nothing makes us real courageous as does the fear of God. If we really know our position in front of our Lord, and if we just can see the benefits of storms that come and go, and if we only believe that Jesus doesn’t leave but always remains… we’ll know that we are not forsaken but loved.

Think about: Why do we fear? Because we are of little faith of how great our God is. Didn’t the Lord promise us that when we cast all our burdens to Him he would carry us through? So why fear storms?
Augustine once said, “Fear God and we need fear no one else”. This is so true. Nor death, nor anger, nor famine, nor storms can move us. Our God is a big God!

Acknowledgment: JFA Interactive - Sermon by Rev. Eric Atienza, Oct. 11, 09, Jesus For All Ministries, KKFI Seminar Hall, Manila.