TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING HOW GOD LEADS PART 1A

SUB-TOPIC: How to turn my storm into a song

Being a believer does not exempt you from the trials, storms and challenges of this life. Even Jesus himself went through them – John 16:33. It is very clear that the storms of life are for everyone – unbelievers and believers alike. Exodus 13:17. God led the Israelites, not through the short cut. Short cuts will cut you short. God did not lead them through the shorter way, but led them through the wilderness. The storms of life are designed to make us stronger. Storms are not to kill us. God does not raise weaklings. Storms will happen, but you will overcome. Isaiah 43:2, Psalm 66:12. There is always what to go through because of where God is taking you to.

For Joseph, he had to go through Potiphar’s house and the prison, Daniel went through the lion’s den, the three Hebrew boys went through the burning fiery furnace, our Lord Jesus Christ went through the cross – Hebrews 12:2. Before every throne , there is always a cross. You must pass through the cross to wear the crown. The good news is that no matter the storm you are facing presently, you must always have the assurance that if God brought you into the storm, He would see you through it! That storm you are going through will still turn to a testimony!

Rest is not the absence of crisis or storm, but an inner state of peace and tranquility in the midst of the storm. It has to do more with the mind than the situation. Rest begins from the mind before it influences the situation. Job 3:25-25. The scripture painted a graphic picture of what unrest is all about in 2Chronicles15:5-6. There are three reasons for unrest according to 2 Chronicles 15:3.

The first thing that brings unrest to people is Godlessness. There are people who come to church but they are disconnected from the true God. Job 14:1. If you are not connected to God, your storms will multiply. Matthew 11:28. Coming to God is applying for rest, living outside God is embracing unrest.

The second reason for unrest is ignorance. What you do not know, you suffer for it. Matt. 11:29. We learn our way into rest through teaching and practicing it. 2Peter 1:2. The more you know, the more peace and grace you enjoy.

The third reason why people suffer unrest is lawlessness. When people do not have regards for spiritual and secular authority. Lawlessness is the father of restlessness. Judges 21:25.

What then is a storm?

1. A storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere, an unpleasant, turbulent and destructive weather.

2. An unpredictable interference in your life. In otherwords, the disturbance of the peace and serenity of a person’s life. Do not be afraid of storms, they would move you to your next level!

3. It is the direct assault of the enemy, physically or spiritually upon a man’s life in order to disrupt the peace in the life of that person.

Storms naturally come in different forms, tornadoes, tsunamis, cyclones, etc. Spiritually, a storm is a destructive force calculated by the enemy to hinder your advancement, frustrate your progress, delay the manifestation of your breakthroughs or testimonies.

Storms can manifest as joblessness, barrenness, prolonged singlehood, terminal ailment, marital crises, witchcraft attacks, business and career stagnation, etc.

Understanding the lessons to learn from the storms of life.

Many see the storms but do not look out for the lessons. Ecclesiastes 3:1. When you go through a storm, there is a lesson to be learnt from it. Mark 4:35-41.

1. You need to understand that the storms of life come to all. Our seasons may be different, but we all go through the storms of life. Mark 4:36-36 shows that there were some other little ships. So the storms that affected Peter’s ship also happened to others. The time may be different, but we all have our times. The person in your ship will determine the outcome of that storm. In Mark 5:1, if Jesus is not in your boat, the storm will linger. The person in your boat determines the outcome of your storm. No matter the storm you are facing right now, if Jesus is in your boat or ship, your faith may be shaking but you won’t sink.

2. It was Jesus that told the disciples, “Let us”, in otherwords, I am going on that journey with you! He followed them in the ship, yet the storm came. That God is with you does not mean that the storm will not come. His silence does not mean He is absent. Isaiah 43:2. In the promise land that God asked Abraham to dwell, there was famine – Genesis 12:10. In your promised land, there may still be famine. In your beautiful marriage, storms will still come. That you are in your storm does not mean that God is absent. Ruth 1:1-3, Elimelech was in the land God asked him to stay, but there was famine in that land, so he left with his family, and out of four of them that left, only one person returned.