We often assume that if we obey God, life will go smoothly, but sometimes the fiercest storms come when we’re faithfully following Him. In those dark seasons, when fear, disappointment, and unanswered questions press in, we may even wonder if God cares at all. But what we need most is not always that our problems get solved overnight; it’s remembering that suffering helps us see God more clearly than comfort ever could. Trials will either make us bitter or make us better, and that choice is ultimately ours. The deeper question in suffering is not simply, “When will this end?” but, “Will I come through this more like Christ than I was before?”
Faith > Fear
In Mark’s account of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Mark records four questions. One question was a result of fear, two questions were to challenge why we fear, and one question was to remind us why we don’t have to fear. Life can be difficult and God often allows things into our life that we may not understand. However, these four questions remind us that Jesus is in control and and therefore we don’t have to fear because we can have faith in Him.
