Hopeful Expectations in the Storms of Life

Sitting in the comfort of my Georgia home, I watched the live weather coverage of the second hurricane in as many weeks make landfall. I waited with bated breath to hear from all my loved ones in the path of the storm. One by one, I heard each of them was fine, and then I praised God.

That’s what we tend to do as Christians—we worry, we pray, we watch, and then, if things go well, we praise God. I really wanted to grow beyond this mindset—to learn to praise God during the storms of life. Although I have had numerous opportunities to practice this, I am still a work in progress. Recently, I met a woman who modeled heartfelt praise amid tragedy. Living relatively close to the areas impacted by both hurricanes, our area hosted people escaping the brunt of the storm. One such woman seeking refuge was Christina. Friends brought her to our church only days after the powerhouse storm made landfall in the proximity of her town. When asked about the level of devastation, her response was inspiring. Instead of giving an account of the fallen trees, the power outages, and floodwater damage, she spoke with deep gratitude of all God had done and was doing. She spoke about how the Lord prepared her medically to make the journey and how the church arrived immediately with supplies and cleanup help. Christina was filled with the hopeful expectation that God would rebuild their community for his glory.

It was a totally unexpected answer barely a week after such a tragedy!

Yet, as believers in Jesus Christ, shouldn’t that be our mindset? I confess, it is not usually mine, or at least not right away. As I pause to think about all of the “storms” swirling around in the lives of people I know and around the world right now, fear would be a natural response. The uncertainty of how we could be impacted by what we perceive on the horizon could leave anyone feeling unsteady.

Unwanted medical diagnoses, infertility issues, rebellious children, struggling marriages, and financial hardships are only a few of the issues that could cause a personal cloud of darkness. Coupling these personal challenges with global storms—wars threatening numerous countries, political polarization in the upcoming election, natural disasters, and economic constraints—could make anyone reach the point of despair.

When life is going well, it is easy to think that we would have faith to weather all the storms of life. I wonder if Jesus’ apostles thought they could, especially when they were in a boat during a thundering deluge.

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)

Jesus was with them in the storm, yet they thought he didn’t care. Were they thinking if Jesus cared, they never would have experienced the storm? Were they expecting Jesus to instantly deliver them out of the storm?

Most Christians don’t want to be of little faith. I don’t know about you, but I want the kind of faith that is able to withstand the storms when they come, like the house built upon the rock, which does not wash away. (Matthew 7:24-27)

So, what would a faithful response look like in the midst of storms? As I prayed through this question, I compiled a list of things I could do to foster a hopeful expectation regardless of the circumstances. This has helped me pay attention to the Lord in times of difficulty, and I hope it helps you.

·        Spend time seeking Jesus when life is going well. It will help you keep your focus on him.

·        Regularly remember how you saw Jesus intercede in the past. Journaling helps with this.

·        Keep a list of what you are grateful for each day to develop a habit of gratitude.

·        Participate in a community of believers; they can lend you their faith when yours is weak.

·        Pray and ask to see Jesus in your circumstances. You will find him.

·        Find joy in the little things: a beautiful sunset, a good cup of tea with a friend, a smile from someone you love.

·        Embrace the struggle and rely on faith. Running away from problems usually makes them worse. Trust that God will get you through everything.

·        Praise God, even when you don’t feel like it. Eventually, your spirit will join the words you sing as a sacrifice to the Lord.

When uncertainty looms, we have certainty in the gospel. It is good news that Christ makes a way when there seems to be no way forward. Because he lives, we can face every “storm” with hopeful expectations.

Share with us anything you would add to the list to keep us focused on the Lord in all situations. We would love to hear from you.

Note: NEWIM leaders are praying for the many people impacted by the wildfires and the hurricanes this year. May God be ever present as he redeems what has been lost.