When Lifes Storms Overtake you..

There is hope and a definite answer to the trial you're facing right here...

It is so easy to be overwhelmed and besieged by problems, issues and challenges that life throws at you. Sometimes it feels like you just barely recovered from the last trial and another one is right behind… then just when you’re working on that and believing to get through it, along comes another… and it leaves you feeling like you’ve just went 2 rounds with Mike Tyson and didn’t get to throw a punch! If you can relate to this, then read on because there is an answer and there is hope for you and your situation.

Recently I went though what was one of the toughest times in my life. Many who follow me and subscribe to me here on Substack or YouTube are aware that my wife and I moved down to Florida from New Jersey about 2 years ago to follow direction from the Lord. We planted ourselves in a great church and began the ministry assignment that brought us down to the Sunshine State. I had several business endeavors (Real estate flipping and construction) that I was starting, and everything was going great… Until… then it wasn’t! The real estate market in the area took a drastic turn (one of the largest downfalls in the nation), suddenly my properties were not only losing value faster than I can sell them, but the construction company also went completely slow so I could not even supplement the income or loss. In the midst of trying to keep things afloat, my wife was attacked with a dangerous infection in her digestive system which worsened over several months and had her in and out of the hospital for over 3 months and resulted in a major surgery that is taking another 4 months to recover from. During this time I am carrying out our ministry mandate virtually alone, and working twice as hard with less visible results just to keep all the business wheels spinning and still losing value and going upside down on my 2 houses that are not selling due to the market shift and the bank threatening to take them away because the loans are over due. On paper I lost over $350,000 of collective income and savings, and if they took the houses I would owe an additional $900,000 on top of it all… These are the larger of the many collective challenges I was faced with during the last 6 months.

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? That’s how I felt…

I didn’t see an upside or light at the end of the tunnel and felt like I hit a dead end. I started questioning of we heard God correctly and doubting if I was where I was supposed to be. But in my heart, I knew I was in the place He called us to be and despite my confusion regarding these events, I remained in faith and trusting Him because if after all I was obeying His voice, something has to turn for the better and I would know.

Have you ever been there? Endeavoring to obey God and all heck breaks loose around you? Besieged on every side from forces beyond your natural control? It forced me into a season of prayer, fasting and inflection. What He told me in this time is what I took with me through the storm and what I will share with you now.

Mark Chapter 4 Jesus tells the disciples to get into the boat and states: “let us go to the other side…” A storm breaks out and being experienced sailors they knew that in the natural were in imminent danger of losing their lives! Waves were overtaking the boat, they cant control it and they are scared as they look at Jesus who is asleep!

Oh, boy that sounds familiar! Hey, Jesus! Look at what’s happening! Don’t you even care that we are about to perish (die)?

Here they are, 12 of them… all right smack in the middle of the will of God, remember Jesus told them to get into the boat, they were obedient.. and they were in a possibly fatal storm!

So we see that it was actually assigned for them to go through this storm. We come to realize also in our walk with Christ that there are some storms that come because of ignorance, some because of our own disobedience and some because we are assigned to it for one reason or another, be-it a growth cycle, preparation for something larger, or even to prove out the Word sown into your heart.

The book of Mark, chapter 4 Jesus tells of the The Parable of the Sower… Stay with me because your breakthrough is coming!

¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, ^[e]accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

²⁴ Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. ²⁵ For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

This is amazing to me because this entire discourse of what is described as the foundational and most important parable is followed by the account of the storm I told you about earlier.

³⁵ On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” ³⁶ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace,^[g] be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How^[h] is it that you have no faith?” ⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Read on…

Remember, in verse 35 He tells them that He wants them to get on the boat with Him and He says..

Let us go to the other side….

They were perfectly happy to obey and get on that boat…

A storm rises up and the in the Greek it denotes a hurricane winds that came out of nowhere… they didn’t see the signs beforehand…

The storm took them by surprise

These are experienced boaters, and the account tells us that there are other boats out there also so its not only them who got caught up…. We never do find out what happened to them…

After the sermon, Jesus said get in the boat, and they got in the boat.. So remember that they are PERFECTLY SITUATED IN THE WILL OF GOD

Not only are they in the will of God, but Jesus is right in there with them!

And the storm rages… It is described as this fierce gale of wind (That’s Strongs 2978, that means a fierce hurricane wind) that came out of nowhere, that’s what happened!

And the waves and the water were breaking over and into the boat so that it was filling up and almost full.. Now you know that when professional seamen and fishermen get scared out on the water.. it’s a big deal!

So by now you understand that in the will of God, it does rain, and you may encounter some storms and what tells you if you’re in His will or not, is did you do what He told you to do, but the fact that you’re in a storm does not mean that you’re outside of the will of God.

The storm is merciless.. it comes down and seeks to consume you…The wind was blowing with such speed and force that the boat was tossed, the waves are crashing into it and it looked like they were going to die… it threatened to take them under and drown them and I don’t know if you ever felt this way, like you are going under and questioning if you did the right thing, why is this happening to me?

A spiritual storm is something that comes unexpected

(I am not talking about something you caused because of foolish decisions – those storms can easily be avoided), but it comes from the outside, and invades your life and threatens your very existence…. Everything is on the line and It looks like your done…. That’s where I was.

A storm as this is always permitted to build and increase your faith and bring you into a deeper place with God. It’s many times, a training ground for battles you’ve yet to face.

But God would never allow you to go into a storm that you are not equipped for…. They just had a full days download directly from Jesus Himself, and now as we read in the beginning of the chapter, the enemy comes immediately to try to steal it.

Storms always come with a purpose

So here they are, in a crisis situation

Now we need to see this situation for what it is because in the natural this was a circumstantial storm.

It was a circumstance that was beyond their control.

You can’t control the storm,

You can’t control the wind

You can’t control the seas and the waves

It came and it hit them, and it even though it blind sighted them it was something that was out of their natural control

So you can be in the will of God and be in a storm and in the natural not be able to do anything about it

It’s a circumstantial situation that leaves you helpless and even hopeless in the situation

Then

We’ve got an emotional storm building on top of it, because the bible says they were terrified, they were scared… afraid..

And they are looking at the situation and their emotions are heated up and they are scared about the storm, scared about the financial struggles, scared about the doctors report, scared about what they see and feel in the flesh… and whatever it is that is causing your emotions unstable and to be uprooted is become a part of this storm now… and its making it worse….

So because you cant control it, or see a way out, you become afraid (which is contrary to your faith)

Then

Next we see it turns into a theological and spiritual struggle because after sitting under the Word and receiving intimate knowledge about the Kingdom… they wake up Jesus in Verse 38 and was doubting the very Word they received and what they believe.

And they wake up Jesus and say Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Hey, you’re the Master here and don’t you care that were going to die?

Jesus how can you leave me in this hopeless situation?
Can’t you see Lord that I need your help?

So because their circumstances were out of control

And their rational thinking and emotions became unstable…

Now verse 38 says that Jesus Himself was in the back of the boat.. ASLEEP! And He was sleeping so soundly that the bible says they shook Him in order to wake Him and they said don’t you care?

You know because of you cared we wouldn’t have to wake you up, you’d already be on this…

And they are all in this storm together and while they are struggling with the wind, and bailing out water and their emotions are raging… oh yea.. and its night time! …. AND Jesus is ASPEEP!

And they wake Him with a question:

Don’t you care, because if you did I wouldn’t be going through this like this…

Don’t you care that we are perishing is the words they used…

(and that word perish is Strong’s 622 and literally means to be utterly destroyed)

Jesus just taught them and they just came from church and they’re in a storm and where’s Jesus?

Verse 39

Jesus gets up and rebukes the wind and says to the sea literally hush, or translated in your bible peace, be still.

Now the word used here for rebuke is a Greek word that means to Admonish or charge…

He charged the wind, in other words He commanded to to cease.

(We pray and rebuke the enemy and most have no clue of what it even means… It is to find him at fault and admonish him to cease – and even then there are rules of law because you cant cast him out of where you keep an open door… OK, that’s all another teaching)

Why didn’t Jesus say I cast you out?

Because the devil had legal right to be there but Luke 10:19 tells me that Jesus has given us authority and Power over ALL the power of the enemy and nothing by any means shall harm me…

So Jesus charged the wind (the work of the enemy) to cease, and then spoke to the waves (the effect of the wind) and said HUSH, PEACE, Be Still, or silent…

Read and understand the methodology here because it is important.
And immediately there was a perfect calm….

Jesus, the prince of Peace bound the root, and loosed Himself on the situation…

And then Jesus turns to His disciples and says to them…
Why is it that you are afraid and how is it that you have no faith?

(Fear cancels faith)

Why are you so afraid and why do you have no faith?

~ OH< Maybe its because we are about to DIE!!! – they must have thought to say

But in verse 35 if you remember, Jesus said Let US go to the other side… He didn’t exclude them and say let Me go… We’re going to make this same trip together…

OH.. So When I said let US cross over to the other side, you were ok and excited to get in the boat with me….. But when the circumstances showed up, the story changed… it over-rode what Jesus said….

In other words: Your problem overrode My promise.

So you are now living in the light of the problem, and no longer living in light of the promise, and when you live in lite of the problem and not the promise, it will negate the fact that I even made one. (Paraphrasing)

I’ve said many times not to confuse faith with denial.. a storm is a storm when it comes, call it a storm, then control it.. don’t call it a sunshine day because its not….

God never wants your circumstance to trump His Word.

Not only does God not want your circumstance to trump His Word, but He does not want it to trump His presence…. Because He is on the boat too… remember, you’re in His will, He is with you…

And so Jesus speaks TO the problem, and when He does, there is a change in circumstances. Everything around them changed immediately…

YOU SPEAK TO YOUR STORM

I want you to understand that you are a child of the Most High God and you have all authority over all the power of the enemy and Jesus promises us all that you will go to the other side… how, is up to you! I want you to begin to take the Word and use it to shape and change your circumstance today.

Understand that if you are in His will and going through a storm, there is a reason and you are not only equipped for it but will come out stronger than you went in if you don’t give up, faint or quit in the middle.

Luke 10:19

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

He gave YOU the power so you speak to your storm…

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

So if I am in the will of God and I face a storm then what do I do?

I’m telling you that if you do not speak to your circumstances they will definitely speak to you…

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Luke 9:1

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,…

Let me tell you that if you are yielded to God, Your assignment (in any area) will yield to you

If you are not yielded to God (not in His will) then your assignment will not yield to you…

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,…..

1 John 4:4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Mark 6:7

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Isaiah 40:29

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Romans 8:17

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(Long story short with my situation; God is turned everything around piece by piece and I am seeing not only restoration but expect restitution because the thief has not only been found, but arrested and held accountable! Stay strong because what’s waiting for you on the other side is certainly greater than where you are! )

God bless you.

Anthony Reinglas