When Storms Come...and They Will!

No matter what storms are raging around you in life, it is Jesus who can bring peace. No matter what tempests are thundering within your own mind and heart, it is Jesus who can calm you deep in your soul.

We all have trials, temptations, storms in our lives.  No one is exempt.  If you think you will go through life happy all the time, think again.  The inevitable will happen.

But God...

John 16:33 The Passion Translation (TPT)

33 And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous,[a] for I have conquered the world!”

Note in the verse "you will experience trouble and sorrows".  He didn't say MAY experience, He said WILL experience.  We just need to stay fixed on Him, rest in Him, rely on Him.  He is our strength in tough times.  It's not easy either.  Sometimes I have gone through tough times and my eyes don't turn to God, they turn to things like "if only I were dead I wouldn't be going through this", "no one will miss me", "I can't do this anymore", "what is wrong with me".  Encouraging words in a dark time....NOT! I am learning, as I abide more in His presence, that He is the first thing I think of, more often than not.  I recognize those other words, and who delivered them and I won't partake anymore.  Sometimes thoughts creep in, but I recognize works of the enemy and I give him a boot out the door.  It can be a struggle to boot him out, at times, but persistence with God's help, always wins.  God has all the authority, which Jesus passed on to us.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the authority of the universe has been given to me.[h] 19 Now go in my authority and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 20 And teach them to faithfully follow[i] all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.

What a blessing.  So, when we abide in Him, we get close to Him, we have relationship with Him and ultimately, we have His authority.  If Jesus has all authority, then satan has NO authority.  Don't let him bully you, boot him out with just one word "Jesus"!