Weathering the Storm

Life is always full of storms. The Bible warns us that the storms will come more frequently as the End Times approach, just like birth pains. But you can weather these storms in peace, my dear friend. All you have to do is keep your eyes on Jesus.

Sure, there are storms. There are greater storms yet to come. But as a child of God, you can be safe, you can be at peace. At this moment—as you read these words—where are your eyes? Your physical eyes are focused on this page. But you also have spiritual eyes ... eyes of the heart ...and what you see with those eyes will transform your life. I have great news for you today!

Spiritual eyes don’t see the problem or focus on the crisis.They see Jesus and focus on the Lord! You can look at your personal situation, your medical issue, your relationship problem, and be overwhelmed by worry. Or you can see with your spiritual eyes—and feel confident. Reassured. Safe. At peace.

We can all learn something important from King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), who understood one thing: where to look. A massive multinational army was forming to annihilate Israel. Jehoshaphat had no idea what to do. His natural eyes saw disaster. “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us,” he told God honestly, “nor do we know what to do. But, our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV) God gave Israel the victory the very next day ... without even having to fight. That’s the kind of victory I want today! I want it for me, and thats the kind of victory you should want for you! And you can have it—as you see with your spiritual eyes—as you fix your eyes on the Lord—as you pray Jehoshaphat’s prayer:
“I don’t know what to do—but my eyes are fixed on You.”

Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “I don’t even know how to ask God for help. "That’s OK—do what Jehoshaphat did: He sent “praisers” out ahead of the army, simply to thank God for His goodness, in advance of the victory! “Praise the Lord,” they sang, “For His mercy endures forever!” When you don’t know how to pray—when you don’t even know how to ask God for help—when your situation is too confusing, too confounding, too perplexing for words ... praise the Lord! Thank Him for His goodness ... thank Him for the blessings you’ve already received ... thank Him as an expression of faith that He is going to help you again ... And let Him get to work!The children of Israel could be confident in the face of the enemy because of two very basic decisions they had made—two basic decisions that you can make, too, and experience the same confidence they did: They lived in Covenant with the Lord—they trusted Him and Him alone. Not some government stimulus plan or some military power or fortress wall. They continually laid their offerings before the Lord, keeping their “seed in the ground.” They kept trusting Him as they faithfully believed that He would give them a continual protection of blessings! So many people in the midst of trials withdraw and trust other powers, rather than the one true God.

I want to encourage you to speak this promise prophetically over your life right now:“God will take care of me. God will smite my enemies. God will rebuke the devourer for my sake. God will keep famine and pestilence from me. God will bless me.”