Navigating the Storms of Life

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed."

– Psalm 107:28-29

A few months ago, our family took a road trip that none of us will soon forget. We had been excited for this adventure, eager to explore new places and create lasting memories together. But as with many journeys in life, ours quickly took an unexpected turn.

As we drove along the highway, the sky began to darken ominously. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and before we knew it, we were caught in the midst of a fierce thunderstorm. Lightning flashed all around us, illuminating the towering clouds that seemed to swallow the sky. The rain beat down relentlessly on the windshield, making it difficult to see the road ahead. Loud thunder boomed, shaking our car and, admittedly, our nerves.

From the back seat, our daughter Lexi looked up from her tablet. Her wide eyes mirrored the storm outside as she asked, "How long will we be in the storm?"

I glanced at my husband, who was gripping the steering wheel with calm determination. He reassured Lexi, "It will be a little while longer, sweetheart. But don't worry, we'll get through it."

At that moment, Lexi did something remarkable. She nodded, trusting that her dad would drive us safely through the storm. Then she turned her attention back to her tablet, choosing to focus on the things she could control rather than worrying about the raging storm around us. Her simple act of trust and focus was a powerful lesson in faith.

About an hour later, we pulled into a gas station to refuel. As we stepped out of the car, Lexi looked up and gasped in surprise. The storm was behind us, and the sky was clear and bright. We had made it through the storm.

This experience stayed with me, not just as a memory of a family road trip, but as a profound reminder of how we navigate the storms of life. Just like that thunderstorm, life’s challenges can come upon us suddenly and with great intensity. In those moments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and anxious, wondering how long the storm will last and if we will make it through.

But just as Lexi trusted her dad to guide us through the storm, we too can trust God to carry us through life’s tempests. God reassures us in Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

When we are in the middle of a storm, it’s important to focus on what God has given us control over and to surrender everything else to Him. We can choose to focus on our faith, our families, our responsibilities, and the tasks at hand. By doing so, we place our trust in God’s capable hands, knowing that He is in control of everything beyond our reach.

Just like Lexi found peace in trusting her dad and focusing on her tablet, we can find peace in trusting our Heavenly Father and focusing on what He has entrusted us with. This doesn’t mean the storm will immediately pass, but it does mean that we can have peace in the midst of it.

And often, we may find that we emerge from the storm sooner than we expect, just as our family did that day on the road trip. When we trust in God and focus on His promises, we discover that His strength sustains us, His peace surrounds us, and His love carries us through to the other side.

So, dear friends in Christ, the next time you find yourself in the midst of a storm, remember our road trip and the lesson Lexi taught us. Trust in God’s unfailing guidance, focus on what you can control, and rest in the assurance that He will carry you through. You might just be through the storm sooner than you think.

Keith and Kristyn Getty recently wrote a beautiful hymn called "Jesus Calms the Storm." It also happens to be this month's Family Hymn of the Month. You can listen to this hymn and learn more about it on their website here.