What to do in a spiritual storm.

What to do in a spiritual storm. I think the first key is to recognise that you are in a storm. Sometimes your life goes rapidly from good to bad that for a brief moment you fail to read the signs. The signs that you are in a storm, you need to be able to recognise that you are in uncharted waters. It is important that you realise that you are under attack, under siege. The signs that you are in a spiritual storm are lack of peace, inability to see a way through the problem or challenge, crushing despair and diminished reasoning and analytical capacity. Personally the one crisis I find that takes its toll on me and causes me to feel helpless is the illness of a loved one.

Be still

In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 8 verse 24-27 is a story of the disciples and Jesus being in a boat. In verse 24 “Suddenly a furious storm“, TYPICALLY that is how storms in life come, suddenly. One minute all is well and then the storm hits. Now in this story when the storm hit, waves swept over the boat and it is recorded that Jesus was asleep. I don’t believe that Jesus was oblivious to what was going on instead I believe He was choosing to Be still. The Hebrew word for be still in Psalms 46:10 means to let go, relax, stop striving, cease working against the circumstances. Jesus modelled this perfectly for us, the Lord would keep him in perfect peace whose mind it stayed on Him. So when the storm hits, be still and wait on God.

Do not be afraid

“Do not be afraid” is what Jesus says on rousing up from sleep. Because to be honest when the storm hits, all possible worst scenario cases flash before your eyes, ironically in slow motion. So Jesus acknowledges that the storms of life are usually accompanied by fear. However, He challenges us to not give into fear. It is a choice that one makes saying despite the circumstances I choose peace, I choose trust. I will believe in my God that He is able, He is aware of the situation and He can change my current circumstances. I can choose to believe that these unsettling unsatisfactory circumstances are not permanent.

Speak to the Storm

Speaking to the storm is part of dealing with the spiritual storm. After being still, overcoming fear the next thing is to speak to the storm. This doesn’t come naturally but remember your Father spoke when He created earth. Therefore tell the storm to stop, to not come any further and also who you are well able to deal with it. On your side you have the word of God, the name of Jesus and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. There is power in the word of God which contains knowledge on what to do in any given situation. The name of Jesus is so powerful that anything and everything bows down to it. Lastly in the Holy Spirit there is power. So this week when you find yourself in a storm, remember to be still, to overcome fear and to speak to the storm!