Storms in Life (part 3)

Okay, storms happen. That’s life. (Part 1)

Storms can draw us closer to God … and people have stories to back that up (as we saw from John Newton.) (Part 2)

So what do we do? What are some basic principles we need to know, hold on to, put into practice?

Scripture is not silent on this. From Genesis though Revelation, narrative after narrative, emphasize we can be an overcomer and we have everything we need. This is especially clear in the book of Revelations. 17 times the phrase “to conquer.” But one passage Paul gives is quite clear …

What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom. 8:31–39) 

No Opposition …
  No Accusation …
    No Condemnation …
      No Separation …

And the basis for all this, JESUS. God did not withhold His only Son.

But let me give some basics for us.

• Know Whose You Are

Not about you, but about Him. As His child, we have peace, we have purpose, and we have protection.

• Stay close to the One who loves you … Jesus

His provision, His power, His protection.

• Claim the power of God’s love

Knowing what He did, His sacrifice, is how we overcome. (Rev. 12:11)

• Act on the Truth of the Word

This is weapon we wield against the enemy. It’s His authority, His truth that we use … not our reason or our ways.

• Stand on the Promises, on the Firm Foundation 

Yes we sometimes act. Yes we sometimes are forced to respond. But always, always we stand. (Eph 6) We yield no ground. We compromise no truth. Above all, we stand.

• Give no Foothold

We need to forgive, focus on reconciliation, and build hedges for protection. (2 Cor 2:10-11)

This list isn’t exclusive. And maybe you need to focus on one area more than another. But each of the six principles are worth our attention. 

We can survive the storms. But only through Him and His power.