Praise Him During the Storm

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w-s64l4KDk

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”  And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

As a part of being human, we tend to blame others or God when bad things happen. Sometimes bad things happen because of something that we do. Other times, bad things happen because it is simply a part of life.

Sometimes, non Christians want to say that they do not believe in God because they can't believe that God would allow bad things to happen. As a Christian, I believe that bad things are a meant to be a part of life because bad things can lead to great things. Without suffering, there can be no compassion.

A common analogy used by Christians to describe bad times is going through a storm. Though a storm can be scary and we may feel alone, God is always with us. We may not understand it but even bad times are still a part of God's plan. It is not His desire to hurt us. There is a reason for everything. God brings his goodness out of every situation even the bad ones just because He is that good. It amazes me every time that God does something in my life that I know I could not have done on my own. I've realized that the best place to be during the hard times is on my knees asking God to allow me to trust that He is always with me and will help me through any situation no matter how hopeless it may seem. When my world feels like it is falling apart, I will trust you. You will always defend me. You are never against me. I trust you and my life is so much better because of it. The most important thing that I've realized is that my heart isn't in my hands but is in God's hands. I literally imagine God with His hands wrapped around me caring and loving me in a way that no one else can. God, I praise you during the good times. I praise you during the bad times.