HOW GOD IS USING YOUR STORM SITUATION

TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND

Have you ever heard the story of the young eagle?  A young eagle once dreamed of soaring high above the mountain peaks.  When it came time for his first flying lesson, he eagerly jumped from the nest.

 Confident he would gracefully glide through the clouds but instead a fierce wind immediately swept him into a violent spin.  He desperately flapped his wings trying to regain control.

But he plunged downward at shocking speed.  The wind roared and whipped all around him. The young eagle hit the side of the mountain hard and tumbled helplessly to the valley floor far below bruised and dazed.

He lay there thinking I will never fly now.  This is the end.  Just then his mother the elder eagle landed beside him.

With deep empathy, she lovingly comforted her son.  Once the young eagle regained some strength the mother gently said,” My son, “that treacherous wind is not the end for you.  I know it’s difficult to see right now but you need that adversity and turbulence.  It’s an essential part of learning to fly.

The young eagle protested but the wind almost killed me.  The mother eagle responded.  “Yes, but that same wind is going to teach you how to master the skies.

With my help, you’ll develop the strength and skills to ride the fiercest gusts and currents.

You’ll learn to use them not be used by them.  This storm is not the end my son.   It’s only the beginning of experiencing the breath-taking heights and freedom of flight that I have prepared for you.

This story reminds us of Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait on the lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings like eagles.  They shall run and not be weary.  They shall walk and not faint.

 My brothers and sisters we all face storms that knock us down.  The death of a loved one, a cancer diagnosis, a strange relationship, a financial crisis.

In those moments we feel helpless like the young eagle we just want the wind to stop.  But what if these storms have a purpose?  What if they are not the end but the beginning?

With God’s help, our storms can develop our faith, and build our character.  Expand our ministry and prepare us for new heights.   The strong wind is not meant to destroy you. But help you rise above adversity. 

Into the life, God has for you.  Let’s explore this together.   Challenges and trials are inevitable parts of life in this Fallen World.

Seasons of climate, stability certainly occur but storms always return.  Illnesses, broken relationships, career turmoil, and family crisis.

When the fierce winds start howling, the threatening clouds darken the skies of your life.  Your instinct is to run and escape.  You desperately pray for the tempest to pass and for God to calm the swelling waves.

 But what if there is a Divine Purpose in the storms?  What if you are running away from your purpose?

As hard as it may sound, sometimes you need the storm.  Those chaotic gusts become your teachers to strengthen your faith and character.  The booming thunder becomes a calling to comfort others going through similar storms. 

You need the storm because it grows your trust and dependence on God.  When life feels funny and calm, we often rely on our abilities and resources.

 We become self-sufficient to get our need for God but fierce storms reveal how powerless we are in the face of such overwhelming forces.   As everything spins out of control.  We finally hit bottom arriving at the beautiful place of complete dependence on God painful but necessary.

Storms blow away our false confidence in ourselves.  Storms shift our focus entirely on our refuge almighty God. 

In Psalm 18 King David describes a season of violent storms.  He describes wave after wave of disaster.  Enemies surrounded and attacked him.  Death seemed imminent.  But in desperation, he cried out to God for deliverance.

David declares in verse 16, he reached down from one high and took hold of me.  He drew me out of deep waters.  God rescued David from the raging storm and set his feet on the rock.

What seemed to be a certain doom became the Catalyst for deeper trust in God.  The storm drove David to fully embrace God as his only anchor.

Now the storm you face reveals your fundamental inability to control life’s circumstances.  But take heart for then you turn to the one who rules the wind and waves.   You discovered his power presence and deliverance in remarkable new ways.

This deepens your roots in him.  The strong winds that uproot the weak tree strengthen the sturdy Oak to stand anything. 

My beloved ones your storm will develop your trust and reliance on God himself.   You will emerge firmly anchored in his love and sovereignty over your life. 

Never forget you need the storm because it shapes your character.  Fierce winds and pounding rain develop spiritual muscle. 

We all need some spiritual muscle like an athlete lifting heavy weights to build strength.  Difficulties build Christ-like qualities in us.  Patience, courage, humility, compassion, and perseverance.

 The trials that seem to be crushing us are shaping us into the image of Jesus.   He uses the storms to transform you at your very core.

In James 1: 2-4 the bible says,” Consider joy when storms come” because they will produce perseverance and character within you making you mature and complete.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17 describes troubles as light and momentary afflictions.  Teething for us is an eternal glory that far outweighs them.  God has Eternal Purposes in each tempest.

Just as the immense heat and pressure involved in transforming a lump of carbon into a dazzling diamond.  Your storms have a heavenly purpose in developing your soul into something beautifully Christ-like and eternally impactful.

Consider biblical examples like Joseph and David.  Young Joseph endured terrible storms of betrayal.  False accusations and unjust imprisonment.  But he emerged from the tempest with faith refined like gold.   A humble heart of forgiveness and a passion to fulfill God’s purposes. 

David endured storm after storm as King Saul tried to take his life but through it all David developed integrity, wisdom, patience, and spiritual authority.  The clouds and storms eventually produced a king after God’s own heart.  Now the relationship struggles, financial crises, or the health diagnosis.

Some of you may face will feel like a hurricane striking you but if you keep your eyes on Jesus the master of your soul will develop His heart of compassion, courage, and spiritual authority.  The winds howl but your roots grow deep in love and faith.

When it finally passes you will shine with Christ-like qualities that display God’s grace in ways you never could have without the storms.

Lean into Him, brave soul.  Let the Tempest teach you.  In Hebrews 12: 1-3 Therefore we also are surrounded by so greater cloud of witnesses lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against themselves.

Lest you become vary and discouraged in your souls.  Now in this scripture of Hebrews God is encouraging you to endure the storm and to put your focus on Jesus because your end will be better than you’re beginning.  My dear beloved brothers and sisters, we need storms because they expand our faith and shape our character.

Now let’s discuss how they enlarge our life in ministry.  You need the storm because it prepares you for greater service.  God often allows storms in your lives to help others going through similar hardships.

Your pain cultivates compassion and the capacity to comfort those amid trials.

2 Corinthians 1:4 explains comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us if you’re experienced divorce you can powerfully minister to other divorces. 

If you battled anxiety you can better encourage those struggling with mental health because you faced infertility now you can comfort an adoptive or foster parent.  Sometimes God allowed your storm to prepare you for expanded impact.  These lives you could never have otherwise reached.   The beauty of this is your mess becomes your ministry and your hardship readies you for your harvest. 

Storms also give you greater boldness and passion in sharing your faith.  You have a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness through the fiercest winds.

 People connect better with someone who has navigated deep waters.  They will listen when you say, let me tell you about the Mighty God who strengthened me through the storm.

Your story stirs up other hearts to open up to this loving father.  1 Corinthians 9:22 we see that Paul’s suffering equipped him to relate to everyone.  Becoming all things to all people to save some.  The young eagle after some experience will now have an incredible and gripping story to encourage other young eagles. 

He will be able to say I know that suffering but let me tell you about the God who lifts you.  The storm victim becomes the storm guide. 

Beloved kiss that wave.  Let it crash you into Christ the solid rock.  Then tell others of Him.  The inevitable is true.  Storms will come but you have two choices.  Resist God’s help or embrace God’s help.

You can senselessly rage against the storm ending up battered and broken or you can submit to God’s purposes allowing Him to use your storms as instruments of growth.

When stormy winds blow choose to say like a Job in Job 1:21   The lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Now I urge you to cling tightly to Jesus your anchor in the storm.  He puts the wind beneath your wings.  He will hold you steady through howling gusts.  Trust him to develop your character and expand your service capacity.

 One day you’ll stand atop the mountain.  Looking back on the valleys you walk through and understand God’s loving purposes in it all.  Your storm will promote you to new places you’ve only dreamed of.  God will take you deeper and lift you higher than ever before.

Surrender to Him, embrace the storm today, and discover that new life it brings tomorrow.