Faith in the Storm: Trusting God's Presence in Uncertainty
Pastor Laurie Polich
September 16, 2024
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Main Topics Discussed
Introduction
Greeting and excitement: Express enthusiasm for being present for the week, sharing that you'll post daily encouragements and be available after chapel to connect with the congregation.
Introduction of message theme: Over the next few days, we’ll explore three stories of Jesus that reveal the nature of God, starting today with a story from Matthew 8:23-27 about a storm.
Reading of the Passage (Matthew 8:23-27)
Jesus gets into the boat with His disciples.
A sudden storm arises on the Sea of Galilee.
The disciples panic and wake Jesus, fearing for their lives.
Jesus rebukes the storm, and everything becomes calm.
The disciples are amazed at Jesus’ power over nature.
Storms Happen Around Us and Inside Us
External storms: Referencing a real-life example of the mudslide storm in Santa Barbara. Emphasize the fear and unpredictability of external storms.
Internal storms: Personal crises are often more challenging than external events because they are unseen by others. Connect this to the audience by acknowledging that some might have come to chapel today carrying unseen burdens.
Personal Story #1: Share the story of parents’ divorce, and the internal storm that occurred when the speaker’s father remarried a much younger woman. Acknowledge how storms can happen in families and cause emotional upheaval.
Jesus is With Us in the Storm
Jesus’ presence in the storm: Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, though He appeared to be inactive or sleeping. Relate this to moments when God seems absent during personal storms.
Not in the storm, but with us in it: Clarify that God isn’t causing the chaos, but He is present with us through it. He’s not absent even if He seems silent.
Personal Story #2: Share the story of being engaged at age 42, and how the engagement ended when the fiancé reconciled with his ex-wife. The deep emotional and spiritual storm that followed is a powerful illustration of feeling abandoned by God during life’s hardest moments.
Staying in the Storm With God
The temptation to give up: It’s common to want to abandon faith when God doesn’t answer prayers or seems distant. Illustrate how people may “check out” on their faith when they don’t see immediate results.
Trusting God’s control: Staying in the boat and trusting God through the storm is essential to experience what He will do. Encourage perseverance in faith.
Personal Story Conclusion: Share how God opened doors unexpectedly after the broken engagement, leading to a meaningful ministry position and eventual marriage at age 49. Highlight the wedding dress from the first engagement being the one worn on the speaker’s wedding day—a symbol of God’s redemptive plan.
God’s Power Revealed in the Storm
The disciples’ transformation: After witnessing Jesus calm the storm, the disciples' faith increased, and they saw Jesus as more than just a teacher—He was God with power over nature.
Personal Reflection: It’s in storms that we experience God’s power. We cannot see His ability to carry us through unless we’re in the storm.
Personal Story #3: Share the story of the speaker’s father and stepmother, who have now been married for 43 years. The initial storm turned into a blessing beyond what was expected.
Application and Encouragement
Testifying in the midst of storms: Challenge the congregation to share their stories and trust God even when they don’t have all the answers. True testimonies come not when life is perfect, but when faith endures through the hardships.
God’s power after the storm: Encourage people to stay in the storm, trusting that they will know God more deeply and see His power at work.
Prayer and Response
Invitation to raise hands: Ask those in the congregation who are going through a storm to raise their hands.
Prayer for those in the storm: Pray for God’s presence and power to be revealed to them, asking for courage and faith to endure.
Closing Remarks
Expectation for the week: Express anticipation for how God will continue to speak through the messages and move in people’s lives.
Invitation to engage: Encourage the congregation to follow along throughout the week for more teachings and to stay connected.
Biblical References
Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)
"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"
This passage forms the foundation for the sermon about trusting God during storms and understanding His presence with us even when He appears silent.
Reflection Questions
When have you experienced a "storm" in your life, either externally or internally? How did you respond in the midst of it, and did you feel God's presence with you during that time?
Reflect on a time when God seems silent or inactive in your life. How did you handle feelings of abandonment, and what did you learn about His presence through that experience?
What storms are you currently facing, whether seen or unseen? How can you apply the lesson of "staying in the boat" with God instead of giving up or losing faith?
The disciples’ faith grew after witnessing Jesus calm the storm. How have your personal faith and understanding of God’s power deepened after enduring a challenging situation?
In what ways might you be focused on a particular "door" in your life, missing the other doors that God is opening? How can you be more open to God’s unexpected plans for your life?
Daily Activities
1. Journaling Through the Storm
Activity: Start a daily journal to document your personal "storms" (challenges, stresses, and uncertainties) and how you’re feeling in the midst of them. Write about where you feel God might be in these situations.
Application: Reflect on Matthew 8:23-27 and trust that Jesus is with you in the boat during the storms. Writing it down will help you acknowledge His presence even when it feels like He’s silent.
2. Create a “Testimony in Progress”
Activity: Share a current, unresolved challenge you’re going through with a trusted friend, mentor, or small group. Instead of waiting for the situation to be "fixed," be open about how you’re holding on to God in the storm.
Application: This allows you to practice faith in the middle of uncertainty, demonstrating that testimony isn’t just about a neat conclusion, but about trust in God throughout the journey.
3. Set Aside Time for Prayer and Reflection
Activity: Dedicate a specific time each day this week to pray about your personal storms, asking God to reveal His presence and purpose. Incorporate moments of silence to listen and reflect on what God might be doing.
Application: This helps cultivate patience and trust in God’s timing, even when He appears to be "sleeping" through your challenges.
4. Serve Others in Their Storms
Activity: Identify someone in your life who may be going through a difficult time and offer support—whether through prayer, a thoughtful message, or practical help.
Application: By being with others in their storms, you reflect God’s presence to them, just as Jesus was with His disciples. It also encourages you to step outside your own struggles and focus on serving others.
5. Focus on Gratitude and God’s Past Faithfulness
Activity: Create a gratitude list of past storms in your life where you saw God bring resolution, healing, or unexpected blessings. Write down at least one past event each day this week and reflect on how God worked through it.
Application: Remembering past instances of God’s faithfulness will encourage you to trust Him through current and future storms, reinforcing that God’s timing and ways are often different but always purposeful.
