Matthew 7:24-29
Storms of Life
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Luke 8:22-25
Jesus Calms the Storms
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
There is a great deal of difference in the good times and the bad times in our life...When we are upbeat and things are sailing along, life is good...It seems like when everything is rosy and going good in your life for a long period, all things just seem easier...Life is good...Our faith does not seem as necessary in these good times (or so we think), than our bad times...
But we are tested in the stormy times of our lives...
When we care for a sick loved one, when we lose a job, confront health issues, or when we have these troubled times -not only our lives get tested, but our faith gets tested...Jesus seems to guarantee that these troubled times will come sometime in our lives...He seems to say we cannot escape these storms of life...
Life (then) is guaranteed to test us...Storms happen...How will we and how do we react?...
Jesus teaches us how to weather the storms...If you believe in Him, when these storms come, do you pray and have Him beside us?...When the rains come down hard, the streams rise above the house, and the heavy winds pound at our house, and we fall down is He there?...Those that have Him by their side, can ride out these storms of life...Those who hear and read His words and put them into practice -have much hope...Getting through the roughest times in our lives, means having faith in Him...He asks His disciples and us (at the time of a raging storm) -where is your faith?...When we are tested -and we will be tested, it is and becomes all about our faith...