What It Means to Truly Believe in God During Life’s Storms?
Life does not always turn out the way we want it. One minute all is well, and the next we find ourselves in the midst of the storm. It may be something medical, an economic downturn, the breakdown in a relationship, the loss of a loved one. It shakes us to the very core. It is here, however, that faith in God really starts to become real. Thom O’Leary has often said that our faith is not gauged by the strength in our worship in the best of times, but rather in our consistency in the midst of life storms.
When Faith Is Put To The Test, Trust Will Still
Increase
When you're in
the midst of pain, or confusion, it's okay to wonder where God is. Belief
doesn't eliminate the feeling of being afraid, though. It simply means we
believe in Him even when we're weak. It's the gentle act of choosing God in
difficult seasons, rather than in peaceful seasons, that is the strength. It's
the small, powerful act of saying, "I don't get it, I still believe You're
near." It is the type of faith that Thom
O’Leary describes, Faith that appears in the midst of mess, not in the
midst of peace.
Release and Allow God to Take Charge
We all prefer
being in control. We want quick fixes and speedy answers. Yet, storms teach us
that we cannot solve all things ourselves. True belief encourages us to
surrender. It causes us to loosen our grip and trust that God is in control,
even when we know we are not. In his book Keep
Moving Forward, Thom O’Leary
tells about individuals who weathered storms in faith. They didn't experience
complete belief, but honest belief. And that is the reason why it worked.
God's Voice May be Heard in the Quiet
We expect large
signs from God in the midst of storms, but instead, the most often, He
communicates in stillness. In an encouraging Bible passage. In the calm word
from a friend. In the peace that just appears. In “Thom O’Leary Mountainbrook church Echoes of Faith: Looking for Purpose in Life’s Mundane Hours”, we learn that God appears in small, ordinary
things. Even in the messiest parts of life, He remains near.
This is the way
faith operates. It causes you to see God in the midst of events that appear
dark and barren.
You Don't Have to Get It All Right in order to
Believe
Believing in God
is not about having all the answers. It is about hanging on, step by step. It
is about choosing faith when fear is screaming. The good news is that God does
not require perfection. He only requires that you trust Him.
So continue
appearing. Continue praying, in whispers if necessary. As Thom O’Leary would remind us, faith is about walking along with
God, even when the road ahead is uncertain. Such is the essence of believing in
God in the midst of the storms in life.
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