Surviving the Storm

...because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. (1 John 5:4)

At every turn in the road one can find something that will rob him of his victory and peace of mind, if he permits it. Satan is a long way from having retired from the business of deluding and ruining God’s children if he can. At every milestone it is well to look carefully to the thermometer of one’s experience, to see whether the temperature is well up.

Sometimes a person can, if he will, actually snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat, if he will resolutely put his faith up at just the right moment.

Faith can change any situation. No matter how dark it is, no matter what the trouble may be, a quick lifting of the heart to God in a moment of real, actual faith in Him, will alter the situation in a moment.

God is still on His throne, and He can turn defeat into victory in a second of time, if we really trust Him.

“God is mighty! He is able to deliver;

Faith can victor be in every trying hour;

Fear and care and sin and sorrow be defeated

By our faith in God’s almighty, conquering power.

“Have faith in God, the sun will shine,

Though dark the clouds may be today;

His heart has planned your path and mine,

Have faith in God, have faith alway.”

“When one has faith, one does not retire; one stops the enemy where he finds him.”
—Marshal Foch

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So often, believers seek to turn down the heat in the furnace when the heat brings with it a moment of refining and the opportunity for victory. When the vicissitudes of life stroll into your paradise there should not be anxiety and despair, there should be a sense of resolve to execute a faith that literally uses the storm to elevate your altitude.

So many believers never soar because they misunderstand the storm. They see defeat in the storm; they see delay and disruption in the storm; they see heartache and struggle in the storm; so they acquiesce to its power and fold under the pressure. They spend more time attempting to alleviate the pressure that they miss the opportunity to be strengthened in it. They focus on circumvention more than empowerment and elevation.

Dr. Rick Wallace 

Believers must learn to infuse faith into their messy moments. There is a reason that James told us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. Those fiery trials bear great opportunity for our faith to move God in our situation. There is nothing like telling God, “I trust You” by executing our faith in the midst of our mess.

God desires to use your struggles as the facilitator of your elevation process, but you must be willing to engage the struggle instead of despising it. The flame is meant to refine not destroy. It only destroys what is not pure. The fire never takes away anything that should be left behind. So, allow God to have his way while you are in the midst of the storm and you will definitely exit this storm a better believer than when you entered it. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace