Part 9- When the Storm Comes

The 9th Key to Building Home- Preparing for the Storm

It was dinner time, and the dark skies heralded the coming of a storm. My parents were visiting, and I was too busy with the kitchen tasks to notice the change in the weather. Suddenly, every device in the house sounded a piercing alarm – a tornado was coming. We needed to seek shelter immediately.

Surely this was not true; this has never happened to us before. We raced to look out the front door, and before our very eyes, the funnel of the tornado began to form. I was stunned in shock and disbelief. I thought, This can’t be happening. My children ran screaming down the stairs. I grabbed them all onto my lap in the safest part of the basement and started singing a song. We heard the ominous howl of the tornado pass by our house. Later, we found out that it had touched down about a mile north of us. Though there was some tree damage, thankfully, no one was injured.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” (Matt 7:24) 

Though the rains come…

Inevitably, a storm will come. The presence of storms in our lives is not based on God's approval or disapproval, for even Jesus himself was tested. Through trials, our faith and foundational understanding of God are put to the test. Is God really who he says he is?

Storms or trials are akin to being thrust out onto the battlefield after completing training. You cannot be called an experienced warrior if you have never seen battle. Will you remember what you have learned in the heat of the fight? We may try to hide from the battle, but the struggle will come to us- from unfortunate circumstances, our sinful tendencies, and from the evil one. The house that we built will be tested to ensure the walls are strong and the footing is secure.

Identifying the storm we are in will help us understand how to manage it. For simplicity, there are three levels of storm severity we can experience in our lives. The first step is identifying the type of storm you are in.

Category 5 hurricane

Starting with the severest trial. A category five hurricane is a trial that puts everything else in your life on hold. Your life as you know it ceases to be the way it was. In this type of storm, your goal is to survive - Loss of a child, spouse, traumatic experience, cancer diagnosis, mental breakdown, etc. In this type of storm, there is nothing you can do but button down the hatches and seek God. This is not a time for building, but for praying. This storm is the ultimate test of what has been built. Even if what you create has a solid foundation, these experiences can leave lasting scars that may not be made right this side of heaven.

In an interview with Rick Warren, after his son had committed suicide. He said, “I did not see anyone or do any work for 16 weeks. In this time, I was either with my wife or sought out the Lord.” He continued by saying, “If I hadn't had my small group for support, I don’t think I would still be doing ministry today.” (Rick Warren Testimony) Rick Warren had built up his support system before the crisis had occurred, and it was through that structure in God and in his surrounding Christian support that he was able to weather this type of storm in his life. A category five hurricane of a trial might happen quickly or continue for a while, but it leaves lasting effects on how you think and feel.

Category 5 Game Plan:

When you identify that you are in a category five trial, your game plan is:

1) Cry out to Jesus.

2) seek out your support from the people you trust most.

3) Read the Psalms and other passages to renew your mind continually.

4) Hold onto his promises

In Matthew 8, when the disciples were in the boat, drowning and afraid of the large storm that was going to overtake them, they cried out to Jesus. Help Jesus! I cannot do this on my own. When we seek Him, we will find that He is right there waiting. This is His promise to us. He desires to be the comforter and provider of our souls. We will get through the initial stages through the power of the Holy Spirit and the network of our family and community. After it's all over, we evaluate the destruction and determine how to begin rebuilding with God’s help.

The Thunderstorm

The second type of storm is the thunderstorm. This trial is characterized as a quick problem that halts all other activities, but it is remedied within a couple of weeks. It causes some collateral damage. However, it does not have severe, debilitating long-term effects on one's life. A fight with a friend, personal or family sickness, a money issue, surgery, or a minor car accident.

This type of storm can trigger a spiral of emotional events, depending on what we hold close in our hearts. The situation can elicit either positive or negative reactions in us. Our response may be out of proportion to the event, tied to past traumas, lies, or idols in our lives that trigger us to act this way. Out of the overflow of our hearts will dictate our attitudes and words.

The Thunderstorm Game Plan

The thunderstorm is a heart check; it exposes our heart posture towards God. The wind blows, and the lightning comes. Just as a tree falls when it is not deeply rooted in the ground, when we are not rooted in God’s word, our emotions and actions will topple over in anger, negativity, and despair.

The way to prepare for a thunderstorm is to renew our minds daily, meditating on the word of God. In Part 9 of the Bible Study, we will use tools to safeguard our minds, bodies, and souls. Just as in gymnastics, when a gymnast does an action repeatedly, it becomes muscle memory so that they do not have to think to complete the task. The tools we use can become second nature, helping us lean on them and deepen our roots, protecting us from the storm.

The Daily rains

Lastly, the daily rains of our lives are the continuous trials that are part of our nature, as are the difficult situations we face daily. These daily afflictions can lead to depression and weariness of heart and body. The continuous rain does not technically prevent us from completing our tasks, but if it rains for too long, the weak spots in our spiritual roof or walls begin to leak. Water seeps into areas that can lead to mold and rot if not properly cared for.

This is how the difficulties of our daily lives can erode our spiritual walk with God. We struggle daily with idols and lies. The evil one does not play fair; he desires to destroy ad hinder growth in the Kingdom of God. The daily storms of life are often cerebral. The enemy comes and tells us that what we do does not matter. He continues in his lies, “It will always be like this, and there is no way to change.” The daily battles with weaknesses, anger, lust, pride, and fear wear us down, leaving us unproductive and despondent. How do we manage regular disappointments, anger, or anxiety in life?

The plan for the daily rains

In Jerusalem's history, God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls surrounding the temple built by Zerubbabel.  Nehemiah also received severe persecution from surrounding nations for rebuilding the wall. The attacks became so frequent that Nehemiah instructed his people to have a hammer in one hand and a sword in the other. (See Nehemiah 4:17)

Through the defense of our mind, body, and spirit, we can wield the hammer of building God’s Kingdom with our gifts and talents in one hand and a sword in the other, which is the word of God, defending us against the attacks of the evil one.

I look forward to sharing tools on how we can defend our mind, body and spirit against these storms of life in the Part 9 bible study.

References

Rick Warren Testimony: My Son Matthew’s Suicide & How Ministry Flows From Deep Pain | Praise on TBN. Directed by Praise on TBN, 2021. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCUbog65dP4.