Storms are part of life’s trials. Our response to them determines the level of our faith in God. The first action we take when a sudden storm rages before us is very important as it shows either a lack of trust or trust in God. Interestingly, God permits certain storms in our lives as a form spiritual exercise to establish our trust in Him. This He does because each time we overcome a level of storm in life, we attain a new level of trust in God. Child of God, God wants you to trust Him. Consequently He will permit the storms to rage before you while He steps back and watch your point of action. Do not forget that the Most High is omniscience; He knows our abilities and the point of action which we would follow. So just like a patient teacher He will keep repeating the exercise until we learn to overcome and become masters at overcoming the storms of life.
So the very first thing that is expected of a child of God in the midst of a storm is to trust God with all the heart. This is a requirement. See Proverbs 3:5;
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
The scripture above is very instructive. Do not lean on your own understanding or brain power because the end result of such physical help could tend towards destruction. Proverbs 14:12;
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Each time we trust God in the midst of a storm and commit our ways before Him, He maps out a plan for our salvation by directing and instructing us on the right path to follow. See what the Psalmist says about this. Psalm 37:5;
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
The sort of “trust” that God requires is that of an unwavering heart. Such a heart sees God as its only help. This was the kind of heart that the patriarch David had. A heart that sees the Most High as its only help. Irrespective of how tempestuous the raging storm might seem, just turn to the Lord by trusting Him with an unwavering heart. The help that comes from God is ever sure. We have to learn from the patriarchs. It was king David the writer of the Psalms that asked the question …From whence cometh my help (Psalm 121:1). His response was (Psalm 121:2):
“My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
In other words, what David is saying here is that his help is from the Almighty, the very source of the cosmos and all that is in it. Since the storm itself is a constituent of the cosmos, it will take the Almighty who made heaven and earth no single effort to still it. There is an interesting account in the scriptures that describes the sort of trust David had in God. 1Samuel 30:1-2;
“1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.”
We can see from the scriptures above that David and his men came to the city only to find that the Amalekites had burned down the city with fire and have taken their wives, sons and daughters captives. Anyhow he expressed some emotional dissatisfaction with what had taken place because he and the people with him lifted up their voice and cried. 1 Samuel 30:4-6;
“4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
We read in verse 6 of the scriptures above that David was greatly distressed because the people spoke about stoning him. Nevertheless he did something remarkable, instead of been despondent, David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. This is remarkable. The phrase “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” is an expression of the sort of trust that David had in God. He encouraged himself in the Lord because he knows that God is a mighty deliverer. He could have relied on his abilities. He was a good warrior, so he could have gathered his men and chase after the Amalekites. Instead he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. This very first step taken by David is an expression of his trust in God. A man can only encourage himself in something he trusts. So David’s trust was in the Lord his God.
The next step he took was to enquire from God about what to do next which is representative of prayer. See 1 Samuel 30:8;
“And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
God’s response to David was positive. He told Him to pursue after Amalekites for he will surely overtake them and without fail recover all. So our action in the midst of a storm is very important. We can see how David encouraged himself in the Lord his God by trusting Him and enquiring from the Lord by committing his ways into the hands of the Lord.
That ability of turning to God and fixing the gaze upon God for help is very crucial in the life of a Christian. Do not trust in your abilities. The storm might seem scary, quit your fear and turn your heart in trust to God. Psalm 56:3;
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Do not trust in your potentials or abilities because God is your provider, He gave you those things which you have. So look up to the provider. Although David was a good warrior he said the following as found in Psalm 44:6;
“For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.”
The storm can be anything; it could be financial, it could be a storm of sicknesses and diseases, it could be anything scary, only remember and always cultivate the habit of placing your trust in God and you will experience His goodness as He quiets that raging storm.
Deep Theological Thoughts 