Where is God in the Midst of the Storm?

We have all been through storms in our lives. We have seen the devastation and loss of life and property in Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico. People have been without homes, electricity, cars, etc. It has been discouraging. We can also experience personal storms in everyday life.  It can be a family problem, job loss, health issue, etc. We have all been there. I think it can be a necessary reaction for us to wonder why this is happening, and better yet, why to me? Fortunately, God is big enough for these questions. What does Scripture teach us about these situations?

First, we can trust God is sovereign over every event in this world. Ephesians 1:21 says, “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come.” He is Lord over all. God is not surprised at hurricanes, problems, or that you woke up with a sore throat this morning. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He has a plan for everything. That is what makes Him God.

Second, as Christians, we are told that “the rain falls on the righteous and unrighteous alike” (Matthew 5:45). One commentary says that God is indiscriminate in His providential care over His creatures. His grace and love extends to everyone in every circumstance. He wants the best for us. Sometimes it is very hard to see that in the midst of our personal storm. My wife and I lost a child at about 7 months into the pregnancy. I remember the pain and worry very well. I can personally confess that extremely trying times can make us forget that God is always in control.

Third, God, through His sovereignty, uses these circumstances to accomplish His glory and our good. (Romans 8:28). The verse does not say, “All things work together for me and on my schedule.” As believers, here is where our faith comes into play. God is infinite and we are finite. He knows all, and we only know the first three chapters of life. He has reasons that we don’t know about. We must trust Him and what He is doing. He has a plan. Admittedly, this is difficult. How many times has He used a tragedy to reveal His power and to strengthen your faith? Have you seen how a fellow believer has been able to minister and reach someone for Christ through a problem or despair? Can you think of a time when you needed an answer, and it came right on time? Admittedly, God doesn’t always answer our prayers on our schedule or the way we want them. However, He always answers our prayers. Sometimes it is yes, no, or the dreaded wait. I, like a lot of people, have the most trouble with the last one. We live in a “now” society, and sometimes that doesn’t fit our timetable. But God is always faithful, and we can trust that He knows what is best for us.

[hr]

[quote bar=”true” align=”center”]Admittedly, God doesn’t always answer our prayers on our schedule or the way we want them. However, He always answers our prayers.[/quote]

[hr]

Lastly, God uses circumstances like these to bring us closer to Him. Many of you know the story of Joni Erickson Tada. She was paralyzed in a diving accident as a teenager and became a quadriplegic. I remember seeing her one time in Church, and she said she would never trade the chains of her wheel chair for the ministry to others that God has given her. She has one of the largest ministries today. She understands that this life is so short. We will all go through tragedy, heartbreak, or difficult situations. I must admit that it is never easy and can give you a sense of desperation. However, I will also admit that I have never been closer spiritually to God than during the storm. It is always easy to pray and worship God when everything is going fine. I believe sometimes these trying storms are a spiritual wakeup call to show us how important our spiritual relationship is supposed to be with Him.  In the middle of your storm, look up. God loves you and is in control. He wants to bless us and use us to bless others through these battles. The storms of life are never painless or simple, but He is always faithful.

S. Montgomery