TRUSTING GOD THROUGH THE STORM, PART 2

6 PRACTICAL WAYS TO FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

I used to love thunderstorms as a child.  My mother would wrap me in a warm blanket, and we’d sit in the safety of our covered porch, listening to the rain.  The feeling of security in those moments lingers today.  I still love the sound of thunderstorms from the comfort of my own home.   But the type of storms encountered these days no longer afford me the luxury of watching from afar.  I’m often caught right in the middle.  Before I know it, I’m struggling to stay afloat, searching for that feeling of security that once held me tight.

Life brings no shortage of storms.  Maybe you can relate.

Jesus’ disciples were no strangers to storms either.  In the famous boat scene from Mark’s Gospel, they struggled for their lives while Jesus slept in the stern.  Mistaking Jesus’ behavior for indifference, they shouted, “Don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).  

In another scene from Matthew’s Gospel, Peter walked on water. While he focused on Jesus, he stayed above the surface. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he began to sink (Matthew 14:30).  

ISSUE OF TRUST

These examples describe reactions to literal storms, but the primary issue is trust.  Don’t we do the same thing? We don’t see God moving, so we think He doesn’t care.  We focus on the chaos around us and start to sink in fear. 

We know we should fix our eyes on Jesus, but how?  How do you keep calm when life rages around you and the flood waters won’t recede?  When the waves seem too big, and you’re too exhausted to keep your footing?  And what does it look like to practice this kind of faith anyway?   

In part 1 of this series, we laid our foundation for withstanding the storm by learning three essential truths about God’s character.  Amid uncertainty, remembering Who God is helps us trust Him.  In part 2, we will consider six practical ways to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  When we focus on Him, we choose to trust God more than the calamity around us.  His perfect peace then guards our hearts and minds, sustaining us through every trial. 

1. MEDITATE ON SCRIPTURE

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”

Psalm 119:15, ESV

King David is a great model for meditating on God’s Word.  Amid exhausting seasons of adversity, he gained strength from the store of Scriptures within his heart.  Instead of entertaining his fears, he concentrated on the Lord’s faithfulness throughout history.  

Likewise, meditating on Scripture keeps our focus on Jesus.  It saturates our minds and hearts, transforming the way we think.  Fear has no room to dwell when we are filled with God’s Word.  That doesn’t mean we will never feel fear. Instead, it will no longer gain a foothold within us.  It enables us to recognize the lies intended to sink us so we can stand firm in God’s truth through the storm.

2. SPEAK GOD’S WORD

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Romans 10:17, ESV

With the Word stored in our hearts, it naturally flows from our mouths (Luke 6:45).  Proclaiming God’s truth in the middle of the storm is an act of faith in God that defies the darkness. It is the sword of the Spirit used to fight life’s battles.  It puts fear on notice, stokes our faith, and edifies those who hear us.   Nothing is more powerful.

As we speak God’s Word about who He is and what He has done, we gain the strength and courage to endure. Though the wind beats down and the flood waters rise, feet firmly planted on the Rock of Christ cannot be shaken.

3. WORSHIP IN GRATITUDE

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”

Psalm 63:5-7, ESV

You may be tempted to think this verse was uttered from a mountaintop, a symbol of victory and celebration.  But David sang this song of trust in the wilderness, a place of danger and chaos, emptiness and isolation.  As he longed for the dawn, he worshipped God and found refuge in the shadow of God’s presence.

Something about worship and gratitude soften our hearts despite the trials that threaten to harden us.  It is rooted in obedience, what Scripture calls our reasonable act of worship (Romans 12:1-2).  It demonstrates humility and defiant joy based not on our circumstances but on a good, sovereign, and unchangeable God who loves us.

4. PRAY WITH FERVOR

“Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”

Psalm 4:1, NIV

Never underestimate the power of prayer.  Scripture teaches that the fervent prayers of believers can accomplish great things, illustrating just how effective the godly prayers of a regular human being can be (James 5:16-17).   

King David never shied away from confessing his need and expressing his emotions before God in prayer.  During the most tragic moments of his life, cries of lament and injustice pierce the Psalms.  He poured his heart out to God amid grief, betrayal, and confusion.  In the same way, God desires that we come to him unfiltered.  This intimate communion with God through prayer sustains us through the storm, granting us peace that passes all understanding.

5. WAIT IN HOPE

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Depending on the translation, the word “wait” in this verse is sometimes rendered as “hope.”  As we learned in part 1 of this series, the terms are intimately related.  But biblical waiting is far from passive.

Just as a waiter is busy with her work while watching and listening for your instructions, so do we wait expectantly for God.  Despite the chaos, we continue to seek and obey His will, relying on His grace and provision to sustain us.   Our strength renews as we trust in His promise never to leave or forsake us, even in our darkest hour.

6. MAINTAIN FELLOWSHIP

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ”

Galatians 6:2, NIV

Running for cover in a storm is natural, but it’s far too easy to isolate during difficulty.  Yet, we were never meant to bear our burdens alone. God has placed believers in a body (the Church) to love, help, and comfort one another.  Just as one part of our physical body compensates for weakness or injury in another part, so do members of Christ’s body strengthen each other through pain and hardship. 

There are times when the load is too much to bear alone.   Even Moses needed others to hold up his exhausted arms to win the battle (Exodus 17).  The paralytic relied on his friends to lower him through the roof to Jesus.  (Luke 5:18-25).  We are no different.  God knows we need others to help carry our burdens.  So, take cover in the fellowship of other believers who will hold you steady through the storm.

CONCLUSION

Fear and anxiety usually reveal a crack in our trust.  We often concentrate on what we don’t have instead of what we do.  We listen to the shouts of panic rather than the whispers of truth.  As a result, we become so concerned about our circumstances that we remove our focus from God and place it on our fears.  But no matter the trial, these six practices will ground us in truth and keep our eyes on Jesus.  No storm will ever sink those who trust in Him.

What other practices do you find helpful?