Transformation in the Midst of Transition

Chapter # 7

TRANSITIONING THROUGH YOUR STORM

I’ll Take You There!

Challenges and trials are often times allowed and sanctioned by God to produce and develop the desired characteristics that God knows are needed in the fulfillment of purpose in a believer’s life. The period of transition often times comes packaged in the form of a storm as a believer makes his way to the other-side towards his maturity in Christ. You may be a Christian, but you will encounter storms. Jesus maybe by your side on your boat, but you will still encounter storms. Storms are necessary for they often come pregnant with opportunities to help strengthen, refine, and mature one’s faith.

While one cannot choose the types of storms that are experienced; one can control the type of response that is given during a storm. The timing of the storms is not determined by a believer; but one can decide to be patient in the midst of the storm. The intensity of the storm is not decided by the believer; but his willingness to trust God to ride out the storm with him is totally his choice. More-importantly, the purpose for the storm is not always easily identifiable; but the opportunities for spiritual development are always there for learning.

Some storms are released to transition the Christian’s faith from fearing the storm, to being capable to walk on the storm that once challenged and immobilized his or her faith. God wants to transition you from a position of fear to faith, from being a storm rider to becoming a storm walker! God is devotedly aware that you are in a storm, so do not ignore, despise, or trivialize the storm that was sent to propel you closer to destiny. Your storms are often times seasoned with purpose and unrecognizable blessings; for our Deliverer can come to our rescue in the very storm that troubles us the most!

Mark 4:35-41

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

The Un-expectancy Of Our Storms

The unannounced manner in which a storm can surround you often times with very little prior warning, is God’s way of checking to see what is really within our hearts. Like a master teacher, He often times withdraws Himself to observe our response to determine whether we have learnt the lesson and are prepared for the next level that He has predestined for us. You may be within God’s will, and obeying His command to go to the other side, but still experience a storm, because storms come to us all.

In the natural, regularly, when a storm is approaching, we are warned well in advance of a pending storm in our area. The modern advancement in technology and social media have given us a bit of security knowing that we can hear about the storm, and make necessary preparations to mitigate the impact of the storm.

Spiritually, we are often times bombarded by a storm that somehow seem designed to take us out, but please remember that Captain Jesus is well able to navigate our boats through the storm! He attended the best spiritual navigation institute and graduated the head of His class. He is so confident in storms that He is known to sleep in the midst of storms, and if you wake Him up, He simply speaks a word to the wind and the waves, and they listen to Him! As a matter of fact, He is so good that He walks on water too, and if you have enough faith He will allow you to do the same. Captain Jesus is so good, that He reads the weather well in advance and prepares Himself how to navigate His passengers through their storms enabling them to arrive safely to the other side. All He insists on is for you to put your trust in Him, and do not be afraid. When you get anxious and worried as you transition through your storm, He comforts you with a calm assurance, I will take you there!

The Calm Before The Storm

Jesus had just concluded a very long and exhausting day of preaching from a boat due to the very large crowd of people, when He gave the instruction, Let us pass over to the other side. Perhaps all the disciples were beat form the extended evangelical initiative, but were more than happy to be refreshed by a relaxing boat cruise. The water was just right and Jesus could not have chosen a better time to travel across the inviting, rejuvenating, and tranquil water.

Often times, believers too may be exhausted from the cares of this world when Jesus speaks to us and asks us to go on a journey with Him. Quite naturally, we comply and with reverenced obedience we do as we have been instructed to do, without any hesitation since the Master is accompanying us as well. The spiritual reality is that even though our Savior is with us as we reposition ourselves to our other side, we are not exempted form experiencing stormy weathers.

The calm before the storm should not deceive us into believing that our lives are without stormy seas. Our faith ought to be tested every now and again to see how well we are able to apply what we have been learning. Storms therefore, are great opportunities to put our faith on trial. What will you do under these circumstances, and how will you respond to this trial are two critical questions that the storms demand an answer for. After all, a faith that is not tested is a faith that cannot be trusted!