ENDURING STORMS

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/17/23

Everyone goes through storms in life. No life is free from encounters with pain, disappointment, struggles, and temptations. We go through storms—and through them, we either become better, or we become bitter.

If we choose to focus on our misery during these storms, our love for God can grow cold. We will question His sovereignty: “Where was God when I needed Him? How could He allow this to happen to me?” Then our passion and fervor for God wanes, and though we pray or attend church, there is an invisible wall between ourselves and God.

Although enduring storms is never easy, we can often look back on them as some of the more intense periods of growth in our lives. Used rightly, we should come through them with greater faith, commitment, and effectiveness for Christ. Sometimes it is in our darkest and most turbulent storms that we see our greatest victories.

Prayer: God, as I go through storms in life, help me to stay focused on You and allow You to grow me during those difficult times. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).