How to Survive a Storm

by Brittany Willingham

Some may wonder how and why natural disasters happen. Science gives us reasons. Science tells us that during what is called “Hurricane Season”, more than any other time of the year, we are likely to see a storm.

What I found to be most interesting is that during the hurricane season the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts up to fourteen storms. Seven of those fourteen storms are expected to become active. Three of those seven active storms are expected to cause significant damage and be classified “major storms”. When a meteorologist predicts there will be a storm, they give the storm a name and prepare for its arrival.

Even though they are experts on the hurricane season and have put much time and effort into studying the storms and making their projections and predictions, there is one thing that they still cannot do.

They cannot stop the storm from happening.

The storm is a part of the season. The storm is going to happen.

These storms are much like our lives.

Just like a meteorologist, we may make our projections and predictions, but we can't stop the storms of life from happening. And this is usually where we start to get into our feelings. because we don’t believe storms should happen to us. We do what we’re supposed to do. We don’t bother anybody and we are walking our best Christian walk and talk.

But I need you to understand that a storm doesn’t care.

A storm doesn’t care how long you’ve been saved or what church you go to, it's still going to happen. A storm does care that you never miss a day of work and that you’re nice to people that aren’t always nice to you. It’s still going to come. Storms don’t discriminate. They happen to the best of us.

We have to remove our focus from trying to stop a storm from happening and learn how to survive it when it comes.

Here’s what you gotta do to survive:

1. GET IN THE BOAT

There’s a passage in the Bible where Jesus gave His disciples the instruction to “cross to the other side of the lake”. After he says this, the disciples get into the boat with him so that they may cross to the other side. As soon as they got into the boat and made an attempt to cross over, the storm began.

If they knew ahead of time that a storm was going to happen after they got into the boat and started across, most of them (if not all) probably would not have gotten into the boat at all. That’s a part of our human nature. We tend to shy away from things that are scary and or challenging. We go into a self-preservation mode and stick to what is easy, comfortable and seemingly safe.

But these disciples obeyed God’s instruction to get into the boat and cross over to the other side. People of Christ, Jesus’ instructions led them into a storm. Obedience can lead you into a storm.

This is why we can’t always look at storms as an “attack” or a negative thing. Sometimes the storm is part of the assignment. The storms aren't always a result of something you did wrong. Sometimes you go through storms because of what you’re doing “right”.

2. EXERCISE GREAT FAITH.

The disciples had just watched Jesus perform miracles before they got into the boat with him. They literally walked with him and witnessed his power. So those were the moments that should have confirmed and solidified their faith. If they saw how he healed a man of leprosy and caused the lame to walk, there was no reason to believe that he couldn’t protect them in the storm. It shows they had firsthand experience with God but they were still lacking faith.

You have history with God. You have seen firsthand the things that he has done in your life in seasons before. You have witnessed firsthand how God has healed you and provided for you. Did you forget how he saved you? Did you forget that he brought you out of the last thing that you thought you would never make it through? So why now, are you wavering in your faith?

3. REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH!

You will get through this storm. Trouble won’t last always.

At the beginning of the passage, before they even encountered the storm, Jesus started with the end in mind. He said, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” He had a plan from the beginning to make it all the way through.

He didn’t say, “Let’s go halfway and see if we can make it.” He was determined to make it through no matter what. Nothing can stop God’s plan.

This is a fixed fight—the battle is already won. You already have the victory. Take on the attitude and the mindset of victory.

Your biggest storm will become your greatest testimony. You will look back at this moment and remember the way that God carried you through. You will look back and remember how God protected you. You will look back and rejoice about how you survived what should have made you lose your mind.

When this storm is over, your life will never be the same. I dare you to start practicing your testimony. You should be praising God as if it’s already happened. Because you’re coming through.

The storm is passing over.

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

~Mark 4:36-41

Brittany Willingham, a pastor in Flint, has an undeniable call to serve women, which inspired her to found "Dear Sis Ministries". Dear Sis ministers to and mentors over 3K women in the areas of identity, purpose, womanhood, singleness and sisterhood. Brittany has authored two books: "Dear Single Sis" and "Dear Sis: 101" as devotional tools for women to survive their journey and strengthen their walk with God.

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