6 Helpful Keys To Surviving the Storms of Life

Have you ever experienced a snowstorm? I’ve experienced several but the worst that I’ve ever experienced was in the Winter of 2019. At a point I found myself praying in tongues as I called on God to save me from the storm.

There was a storm watch effect in place but it was for later in the day. So I made my way to work as usual and worked till the end of the day. By then, the snow had started and some inches had already accumulated outside, plus it was freezing cold.

I quickly made my way to the parking lot and brought out my brush to start brushing off the snow from the car. As soon as this was done, I jumped in the car and began the drive home. Needless to say, it was a very long drive as visibility was poor and the roads were slippery.

And then I noticed each time I stopped at a traffic light, it was harder to move the vehicle. Because the snow accumulated beneath the tires were frozen within seconds! And I had to press harder on the accelerator in order to propel the car forward. Which was a dangerous thing to do considering that the roads were slippery.

The worst thing was having to turn at intersections controlled by traffic lights. What if I veered off my lane into an oncoming vehicle as I pressed harder on the accelerator? I truly considered parking the car until the storm stopped but I was still far from home and there were no hotels in sight.

Additionally, the thought of effort it would require to get the vehicle back on the road when the storm subsided was discouraging. So, I decided to forge ahead, praying in tongues as I went. That day I decided to put my trust in God as I navigated the storm and He saw me home safely.

So here are 6 helpful keys to surviving the storms of life.

Handling Fear In The Storms of Life

On that fateful day, as I faced the possibility of a car crash and being killed or wounded, I knew it was only wise to turn to God. I had to block out fear by thinking of God’s promises, quoting scriptures and praying in tongues. Thank God for the Holy Spirit because I didn’t know what to pray for but praying in tongues helped me.

And although this was an environmental storm, the same tactics would apply in other storms of life. Because God has promised;

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

Recommended: Awesome tips for finding peace in the storms of life

The Storms of Life Can Vary but They All Have an End

The storms of life can vary by type, duration, and magnitude. For example, Sarah faced the storm of barrenness over a long time period but it came to an end eventually. Leah’s storm was that her husband hated her but she overcame in the end because God gave her favor.

For Joseph, his own storm was that he was hated by his siblings and sold into slavery in a strange land. But the storm had an expiry date and when the time came, he conquered and became the prime minister. Similarly, Mordecai faced a storm that threatened to take his life were it not for God’s divine intervention. 

For the apostle Paul, his own storm was a thorn in the flesh 2 Corinthians 12:7 which he referred to as a messenger of Satan.

A common theme we will see in all the above examples is that God came through for each of these people.

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4 Facts to Remember in the Storms of Life

Jesus Cares About the Storms We Face

Jesus cares about the storms we face and He will guide us through it all.

This brings to mind the biblical story of the storm, in fact, the Bible called it a great storm.

The storm was so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves yet the great master and miracle worker was silent!

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Mathew 8:23-27 (ESV)

The master, the savior, who had performed numerous miracles was asleep.

Is this the time to sleep? You wonder.

Is this the time to be silent? You ask.

But Jesus knows all about our struggles and He has promised that He will not leave us nor forsake us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Back to our main text in Matthew 8:23 – 27.

There was a great storm and the boat was being swamped by the waves, yet Jesus was asleep.

Is the boat of your life being swamped today? Or is it the boat of your marriage, your job, your relationship with your son or daughter or your health, or your finance?

And you feel like you’re about to drown in the waves of the storm that has risen against you.

Do you look around and there’s no sign that master Jesus is on your case?

Is the boat of your life being swamped today? Or is it the boat of your marriage, your job, your relationship with your son or daughter or your health, or your finance? Jesus can calm the storm. #trustinggodinthestorm #storm… Share on X

Jesus is Near to All those Who Call on Him in the Storms of Life

Take heart, master Jesus is near to all those who call upon Him and He never disappoints.

His definition of peace may be different from yours or mine but He never disappoints.

He always comes through for His people, and if you’re His, do not doubt that He will come through for you too.

Let’s take a closer look at the situation in the boat.

Jesus Was in the Boat as the Storms Raged

The first thing we will see is that Jesus was in the boat. That’s a good thing, He was near even though He was asleep. It would have been worse if He wasn’t in the boat at all. 

But He was in the boat.

Is Jesus in your boat today? If He is, then congratulations because your victory is certain. It’s only a matter of time.

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Jesus Wasn’t Oblivious to the Raging Storm

The second thing we will see is that although he was in the boat, he was asleep. By being asleep, was he oblivious to the raging storm? I don’t think so.

Remember the Bible said the boat was being swamped by the waves i.e. it was being overwhelmed with water and about to sink.

With all that was happening and the force of the waves, Jesus couldn’t have been oblivious to the raging storm.

He was aware and He was in control, He knew nothing bad would happen and that’s why He took His time.

When the three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fiery furnace, He became the fourth man in the fire.

Our God didn’t show up when Nebuchadnezzar proudly ordered everyone to bow down to him.

He didn’t show up when the Hebrew boys were being tied up. Neither did He show up when they were thrown into a fire that was so hot it killed their captors. Daniel 3:20-26

But right then as they were being thrown into the fire, He became the fourth man in the fire. And He performed wonders, He did a new thing and everyone marveled.

6 Helpful Keys To Surviving the Storms of Life

Here are 6 helpful keys to surviving the storms of life, they are listed in no particular order.

1. Be resolute in your conviction and don’t be swayed by what is happening around you. The 3 Hebrew boys were resolute in their convictions despite facing the crisis of being thrown in the fiery furnace. They knew God had instructed them not to worship other gods besides Him. And they held onto their convictions in God without any certainty that God would help them and God came through for them.

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV)

2. Practice singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God. I know this is the least appealing thing to do in a time of crisis but it works wonders. There was a time I was broke in college and didn’t know when my next meal would come from. As a young Christian, I had just read the scripture that enjoins us to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, so I did just that. Later that day, God miraculously provided money through some church members who had no idea of my situation. That money lasted until my parents brought me money.

   Paul and Silas used the key of praising God to unlock the prison doors.

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. Acts 16:25-26 (ESV)

3. Seek quietness, in quietness and confidence, lies your strength (Isaiah 30:15). Think about how you would address a similar situation if you had been approached for advice and follow your own advice.

4. Pray: This may sound cliche but airing your mind to God will make you feel better. Talk to God, tell Him how anxious you are, and ask Him to help you.

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

Read: Bible Verses to Keep Hope Alive in Hard Times

5. Find Relevant Bible Verses and Meditate on Them: This is another key to surviving the storms of life. Finding and meditating on relevant bible verses will help boost your faith to receive from God. Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

6. Believe: Finally, just believe that God is working it all out for your good and it shall be so.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28