4 Reasons to Not Give Up in the Midst of The Storm
God’s promise is closer than you think
Have you ever been in a season of waiting or suffering that went on longer than you thought you could bear?
Perhaps that’s the season you’re in now.
In a recent season of my life, I felt like the pain and the surrounding darkness would swallow me whole.
I was filled with faith in one moment and drowning in despair in the next. It’s during that season the Lord used John 6:16–21, the story of Jesus walking on water, to pierce through my darkness.
When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.
Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.
After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid!” Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. (John 6:16–21, HCSB)
1. Mountaintops and valleys are a normal part of the believer’s experience
To understand the significance of this story in John, we must read the verses that precede verse 16 before the disciples get into the boat.
In verses 1–15, the disciples had just spent an exciting day with Jesus watching him miraculously feed 5,000+ people from five loaves and two fish.
After this amazing day where they see the glory and power of God on display and are surely experiencing a kind of spiritual high, they get into the boat. Quickly though we see that the narrative changes as they encounter a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee.
What can we learn from this: As believers, it’s normal to experience seasons where we feel especially close to the Lord, and then others when our faith is tested and God feels distant and unconcerned.
Both seasons are equally part of our faith journey and in each season we serve the same God who never changes.
2. Storms cloud our vision and keep us from seeing what’s right in front of us
After rowing for miles without reprieve in the ravaging storm, the disciples see Jesus walking on the water except they don’t recognize it’s him.
They are so overwhelmed by what is in front of them that they actually miss who is in front of them: Jesus.
What can we learn from this: The storms of life can be so overwhelming and all-consuming that depression, anxiety, despair, and fear take over and blind us from seeing that Jesus is right there in the middle of it with us.
3. Jesus moves toward us in our suffering
Long before the disciples first saw him out on the water, Jesus was already actively moving toward his disciples with the aim to bring peace and comfort to their situation.
What can we learn from this: When we’re at our lowest and struggling to keep our head above water, Jesus is compelled to move toward us, showing that he is acquainted with our situation and is with us in our lowest moments.
4. The promise is closer than you think, so don’t give up
After Jesus told the disciples, “It is I. Don’t be afraid!” they welcomed him onto the boat and immediately they were on the shore where they were headed.
What can we learn from this: When we’re exhausted from the fight and when we can’t see the light at the end, we must not give up — we simply don’t know how close we are to the shoreline and to seeing the promises of God fulfilled in our life.
Don’t give up.
