Trust God in All Your Storms

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT)
“9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Most folks aren’t out there trying to prove how tough they are. If they’re anything like me, they’d rather dodge any rough patches if they can. And when the tough stuff does roll around, we’d rather have someone to lean on, right? Well, truth be told, only God is consistently in our corner, and we must be deeply grateful for His faithfulness. Life will throw some serious curveballs to test our resilience. So, who are you when you’ve got to make those hard calls? Do you crumble under the weight, or has life taught you to trust and lean on God in the storm?

For those that haven’t experienced life’s full range of ups and downs, surprises can catch you off guard and hit you like a ton of bricks. But guess what? God’s saying in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that through it all, His grace is more than enough. Many of us have experienced firsthand that life is indeed full of ups and downs, right? But when your partner walks out, your job tanks, or your kids are driving you nuts, you don’t have to fall apart. Why? Because when you’re feeling weak, God is strong!

Isaiah 40:29 (NLT) states, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” As God’s kids, He’s given us power and authority through Jesus Christ. With it, we can tackle anything the enemy throws our way. But here’s the kicker, we’ve got to remain grounded in God’s Word. It keeps us steady when everything’s up in the air.

The psalmist’s words in Psalm 23:4(NLT), “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me,” provide tremendous comfort. As children of God, there’s no need to fear the future or what’s lurking around the corner. We have the privilege and the responsibility to place all our trust in God, just as Psalm 23:4 says. Our Heavenly Father is always there for us, through thick and thin. When you need a shoulder to cry on and a shield for protection, He’s right there, and He promises never to leave or forsake us.

1 John 4:4(NLT) declares, “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” Most of us have heard this wonderful truth taught many times, but a lot of us still clam up when it comes to handling the unexpected. We need to make a shift and adopt a new strategy for tackling the hiccups of life. Rather than forgetting God’s promises when things heat up, let’s make a commitment to visualize the Lord’s kind but strong face as he holds our hands and never lets them go. Then, literally hear him speaking the commandment of Mark 11:22 to you: “Have faith in God.”

Even when you feel life’s struggles trying to pull you down, resist it and be determined to keep your mind and heart stayed on Jesus Christ. God spoke it, and it is our reality, as His kids: His grace is all we need. We might feel weak, but with God, weakness is a chance for joy, a chance to find strength in the Lord. When you’re feeling down and out, when you’re ready to throw in the towel, that’s when you’ve got to press into the Father. He will bring us through the storm. Lean into Him, thank Him for seeing you through the rough patches. The power of Christ is within you, and don’t ever forget it. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

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