Rick Warren: God Will Get You Through This Storm

“But when [Peter] saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!'” (Matt. 14:30, MEV).

When you’re going through a storm, God is not distant or uninvolved. He is “I Am,” and he is working in your life for your good. Here are five things God wants you to do if you feel like you’re sinking in a storm.

Have courage, because Jesus is with you.
Don’t ever argue with a fear. Just tell it where to go! Tell it to go talk to Jesus.

Take a risk in faith.
Don’t ask God to bless what you’re doing. Do what God is blessing. Ask Him what He wants you to do, and then be willing to get out of the boat.

Stay focused on Jesus.
The moment you take your eyes off the Lord, you’re going under. Matthew 14:30 says,“But when [Peter] saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!‘” (MEV). When you focus on the wind and the waves—your circumstances—you’re going to sink, just like Peter. If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed; if you look within, you’ll be depressed; if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.

Don’t doubt.
You don’t need great faith to make it through the storm in your life. You just need faith in the right person.

Praise God.
Even in the storm, even when you feel like you’re sinking, even when you’re scared to death—praise him all the time. Thank God in the middle of the storm.

What storm is scaring you right now? What storm is sinking you right now? Why do you think God is letting you go through this storm?

He’s letting you go through this storm for the same reasons He sent the disciples into the storm—to say, “I’m all you need. I can handle anything. I will come to you in the ninth hour. And I’ll come walking on the very thing that scares you the most. I’m not asking you to come to me. I’m going to come to you.”

Talk It Over

• What can you thank God for in the middle of your storm?
• How have you grown in your understanding of God because of the storms in your life?
• What can you do to limit the distractions that keep you from focusing on God? {eoa}

Rick Warren wrote the New York Times best-seller The Purpose Driven Life. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

For the original article, visit RickWarren.org.