How to Survive the Storms of LifeSample

Learning From the Storms of Life

“Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness;
but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction” (Isaiah 38:17).

We all prefer our lives to go smoothly, without any major problems or storms. But sometimes it’s the difficult periods that are most blessed in retrospect.

David says in Psalm 119 that it was precisely through tribulations that he learned to follow God's commandments; before going through these, he “went astray”. He needed correction.

In Psalm 32, David tells how he was living in sin and had no intention of repenting. But day and night God's hand pressed heavily on him; he nearly died of misery. Only then did he repent and confess his sin. He received forgiveness and joy. Thus, he learned that God is a refuge even against a “rush of great waters”. When you flee to Him, you are safe.

King Hezekiah also describes in Isaiah 38 that “great bitterness” — in his case a deadly disease — was used by God for good.

Perhaps you've heard other examples from people close to you. Storms in life can bring us closer to the Lord. Have you experienced this for yourself? Which difficulties have been good for you in retrospect?