Preparing for the Storms of Life

Last week we talked about how we can be like palm trees through the storms of life. Jesus warned us that these storms WILL come. However, He also told us to take heart because He has overcome the world. After all, even the winds and the waves obey him!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

“The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”” Matthew 8:27 (NIV)

Sometimes we don’t have advance notice when the storms of life hit. It could be a lost job, an unfaithful spouse, the death of a loved one, or a sudden illness or injury among many other possible things. Therefore, since the timing of trouble is so unpredictable, it’s important to always stay prepared and ready. We need to make preparations in advance. We can’t wait until the storm comes. At that point it’s too late.

Just like one would prepare for an approaching hurricane by boarding up windows, gathering supplies, getting gas, and taking shelter, we too need to take precautions to be able to weather the potential storms of life that could come our way. 

Take Some Practical Steps to Prepare for the Storms of Life:

• First, make sure to build your life on the right foundation–on God and His principles and teachings.

Homes built on sand will blow and wash away when storms come. A house built on a firm foundation, a rock, will outlast the storm. God is our rock!

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2 (NLT)

• Next, build and develop your faith.

You need to read and hear the word of God on a regular basis in order to grow and mature your faith. Attend church on a regular basis. Utilize resources like scripture-based podcasts or books (from trusted sources). Consider getting a book containing verses by topic that can help build your faith in various areas. Two books that I have and use are God’s Promises for Your Every Need  and God’s Wisdom For Your Every Need .

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (AKJV)

• Then, have a few key “go-to” Bible verses for different situations—They are God’s promises.

Find and know God’s promises for different areas of life. Memorize these verses. Make positive affirmations out of these verses. We can look to God’s promises to give us peace, even if we don’t see a solution to our problem yet. God always keeps His promises.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)

“He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.” Romans 4:21 (NLT)

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

“The promises of the Lord can be trusted; they are as genuine as silver refined seven times in the furnace.” Psalm 12:6 (GNT)

• Pray, pray, pray.

Prayer enhances our relationship with God. Conversation with Him will deepen our trust in Him and help us learn to rely on Him when we encounter the storms of life. Prayer is also very powerful and effective before and even when trouble comes. It can help to prepare us. I once heard Beth Jones say that we can put power on deposit through prayer so that we can make withdrawals later when we need it.

“The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” James 5:16b (AMP)

“Don’t quit in the hard times; pray all the harder.” Romans 12:12 (MSG)

**Check out this Prayer for Strength or visit this page for a list of other prayers that may be helpful.

• Do regular praise and worship.

Speak praises out to God. Listen to and sing praise music. Praise can be a weapon that we can use during the storms of life. If we are already in a regular practice of praising it will be routine and habit during those times and provide great benefits. Praise also allows us to keep our focus on God rather than our own situations and circumstances.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4 (NLT)

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV) 

• Have a good support system.

Surround yourself with friends and family that will pray for and encourage you.  You need support.  Have someone you can “vent” to when you’re going through a hard time.  Position a few different people in your life that are good at building you up.  If you do this before trouble comes, you will have an already established group of people to lean on and rely on during the storms of life.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

• Finally, determine in advance that you will trust God–NO MATTER WHAT!

Before the storms of life ever come, make up your mind that you will have complete confidence in God, EVEN when you don’t have complete understanding of the ways that He works. No matter what you go through, He will always be there…He will always help you when you call out to Him…He always has your best interest in mind at all times.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (AKJV)

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NIV)

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19 (ESV) 

If you will be faithful to do these things, when the storms of life come you can endure and overcome them. God will continue to speak to you and give you direction and other resources during those times.

Check out 10 Ways to Get Through a Hard Time for more helpful tips when storms hit.

How to you prepare for the storms of life? Share your tips with us by leaving a comment below!

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

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