5 Ways for Christians to Overcome the Storms of Life
The Christian life is not an easy one. Jesus never promised us we would have an easy life. If you take a look at all that Jesus Himself had gone through while He was on Earth, you would know that this walk is not a breeze in the park. But it doesn’t mean that we won’t have anyone or anything to help us along the way.
God is always with us; He is omnipresent. And God is omnipotent, meaning that He is all knowing. So take comfort knowing that no matter what you are going through or dealing with, God is there with you, and He already knows.
God created each and every one of us with a unique plan and purpose for our lives. He knows every single thing about us: Past, present and future. So the next time you are going through a storm, God already knows. And He also knows a way to help you get through it, to see the other side.
What are these so-called ‘storms of life’?
When you are going through hardships and tribulations, those are the storms of life. Whether it is going through certain struggles in your life, financially speaking or problems with relationships, or if you are getting personal attacks because of your faith, these are all trying times. The beauty in all of this is that we can grow stronger and learn to do better next time.
The devil won’t stop attacking you, so long as you are walking on the straight and narrow, doing what God wants you to do. The closer you get to Christ, the harder the devil attacks. But don’t give up; don’t lose focus on who truly matters, which is Jesus.
Keep Your Focus on Jesus During the Storms of Life
Oftentimes, we can get so upset, afraid, worried and overwhelmed when we go through a storm. Like Peter, struggling to keep his focus on Jesus after trying to walk out to Him on the water, we too, lose focus/sight of who is most important, even in the midst of adversities.
So what are some ways for us to keep our focus on Jesus? How can we make sure that we don’t lose sight of who truly matters during these times?
I’ve been meditating on the scripture, “pray without ceasing”. At first, you think to yourself, well, how can I ever stay in prayer 24/7? There’s so much going on in my life, some days I hardly even remember to read my Bible or do my daily devotion. But when you truly think about why God commanded us to always stay in prayer, it helps keep us focused on speaking to our Creator and meditating on His Word and His promises to us. It keeps us focused on Him alone.
We drop everything else around us to solely go to Him in prayer and talk to Him about anything and everything. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stay idle while you pray. You could be driving somewhere, or going for a walk, and use that time more wisely to pray to the Lord.
Our minds tend to so easily wander, especially at the smallest distraction. The devil loves to distract you and discourage you. Again, that is why this scripture is so powerful and this commandment from God is so important.
Change Your Mindset to Win the Storms of Life
If you are someone who has a hard time letting go of things, or decluttering your headspace, prayer is a great way to stay grounded in our daily walk with Christ. It is like a form of exercise for those who struggle to concentrate or stay focused on one thing at a time without their head spinning with thousands of different thoughts and feelings and distractions. If this sounds like you, you are able to train your mind to redirect your focus on what is most important (and that would be prayer). It may take some time, and a lot of practice, shutting down and casting out negative thoughts and feelings, and learning how to clear out your headspace before you can truly come to the Lord in prayer on a more consistent/constant basis without getting side-tracked.
Take the example of Peter starting to walk on the water out to Jesus. If he had kept not only his eyes on Jesus as he began stepping out of the boat onto the water, but also to keep talking to Jesus, I am sure that would have also helped him avoid falling into the water and starting to sink. (Because when you talk to someone, usually you look at them and have good eye-contact with them).
Take this other example of Mary and Martha. We get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we often forget what truly matters the most, and that is sitting at the feet of Jesus. When Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, she looked up at Him as she listened to Him speak. Meanwhile, Martha was running around the house like a chicken who had its head chopped off, losing sight of Jesus sitting there preaching. It’s like putting on a sermon or Bible study to listen to, and you’re off doing something in a different room.
Let’s take a look at some practical ways to overcome these storms of life, according to scripture.
5 Ways for Christians to Overcome the Storms of Life
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Stay Rooted in Christ Alone
Colossians 2:7 – “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving”.
Ephesians 3:17-19 – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God”.
Think of an anchor for a boat. When you want the boat to stay still in its place, you throw the anchor out into the water to keep it steady/not moving. When you build a house, you want to first make a strong foundation for the house to stand on, otherwise it will fall apart. As Christians, we are to anchor ourselves to Christ. Our foundation is our faith in Jesus.
To be rooted in Christ means to have a strong, connected faith to Jesus. Like the roots of a plant, we are to essentially plant ourselves deep into a rich, Christ-centered soil. This is only through choosing to grow and mature in the faith and get closer to God by reading His Word daily.
The more you learn about God and what it says in His Word, the stronger your faith will be, because you will start to understand that God is in control of all things. He already knows the ins and outs of our daily lives. And God will always be there for us, protect us and provide for us, especially in times of need.
2. Claim the Promises of God
2 Corinthians 1:20 – “ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us”.
There are many scriptures in the Bible that talk about God’s promises for us. Read them, study them, and claim them. You ARE a child of God. You are a friend of Jesus. He loves you and He promises so much for you. And God is not a liar – He keeps every promise He makes. All we have to do is trust and believe. God cannot work without faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.
Also speak these promises out aloud. There is life and death in the power of the tongue. The words you speak, in addition to the thoughts you have, truly matter. Your mind and body will respond to how you speak and feel.
3. Pray Without Ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “pray without ceasing”.
Just like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing”. Never stop talking to God. It is hard work. But sometimes you need to pray more when it is the hardest. Pray earnestly to God. He already knows your thoughts (and the thoughts of your thoughts). He knows your heart, and your intentions. God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always listening and has the answers – we just have to be still in His presence, and be patient and ready to hear His response.
4. Create a Christ-Centered Mindset
1 Corinthians 2:16 – “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ”.
If your mind is full of negative thoughts and feelings, then you are going to get so caught up in the storms of life. It is harder to get through these tough times when we are already feeling anxious, stressed and worked up over it all. Trust me, I have been there countless times, reacting to certain things as a 10/10 (when in reality, it was no big deal). And honestly, majority of the time the things we worry about don’t actually come to pass. It is all in our head.
That is why we need to do our best to practice casting down imaginations. Cast out those negative thoughts and feelings in the name of Jesus! Fill up your mind with His Word and His promises. I know it is easier said than done, but that is why it takes time and practice.
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”.
Whether you are at it at every minute of every hour of every day, or you only need to clear your head every now and again, everyone is on a different journey and stage of life. Surround yourself with those who will encourage you and lift you up in prayer, because you will need it during these times, and it will help SO much.
Don’t be alone in any of this. You are never alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within you, and Christ is always with you.
5. Stay Encouraged in the Word (Not Discouraged by the world)
Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him”.
Oftentimes, when we are going through trials and hardships, we can lose sight of what truly matters and that is the Word of God. Why? Because we are so full of fear and anxiety and stress, that we just want to distract our minds with watching something on TV, or scrolling on social media on our phones, or eating junk food to fill that temporary void.
Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”.
I am here to encourage you to stay in the Word, and to not be DIScouraged by the world. It isn’t bad to want to watch something on TV to distract yourself, or eat a tub of icecream to ‘drown your sorrows’ as they say. But that doesn’t trump the importance of our faith in God. The Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. He leads and guides the way in this dark world. Praise the Lord!
Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him. How can we please Him? How can we continue to worship and praise the Lord, EVEN in the midst of adversities?
What did King David do after his son died in 2 Samuel 12? He went into the house of the Lord and worshipped. Make the effort to go to the Lord FIRST. Spend time worshipping Him. Worship isn’t about ourselves. It isn’t about a feeling we get. Worship is about glorifying and honouring God Almighty.
So, stay encouraged. And keep going. You will get through these storms of life.
Check out my LATEST devotions to be encouraged in the Word.
God Bless.
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