Will You Be Ready When Life’s Storms Hit?

A small stream runs past my apartment building. A few hundred yards away, it flows into a pipe that carries it under a street. Unfortunately, the pipe is too narrow. Whenever we get heavy rain, the water overflows and gushes onto the road, sometimes making it impassable. It’s even flooded the basements of nearby buildings. So far, no one has done anything to fix the situation, at least as far as I can tell.

I’m sure you’d agree that doing nothing while hoping it won’t rain again isn’t a wise course of action. Thunderstorms and heavy precipitation are to be expected in northern Europe. But don’t we sometimes behave the same way when it comes to spiritual matters?

Jesus repeatedly encouraged his followers to be ready for life’s inevitable storms. For example, in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before his arrest, he urged his disciples to pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation. They responded as most of us probably would—by falling asleep. Is it any wonder they all scattered in fear or that Peter even denied knowing Christ?

A few hours earlier, while they ate the Passover meal, Jesus spent a lot of time preparing his disciples for what was to come, though they didn’t grasp his message until after the resurrection. During his discourse, he shared essential truths to help us be ready for any adversity that comes our way.

Jesus couldn’t have put it any more bluntly: “In this world you will have trouble.” ⁽¹⁾ As long as we’re on this planet dominated by the devil, we’re going to face storms of all kinds, and we shouldn’t be surprised when they strike. Fortunately, Jesus gives us two reasons why the situation isn’t hopeless.

First, we learn how to be ready. There are steps we can take to mitigate the damage. We don’t have to stand by and watch helplessly as the storm destroys our lives. What do we need to do? Jesus promises peace to those who are “in him.” He’s the key – we can’t prepare our defenses without him. With his help, we can find peace even in the most violent gale.

So what does this “in him” mean? It means belonging to Christ and being in a relationship with him. Any action that strengthens our bond with him also prepares us for hardships and trials. What works varies from person to person. Some spend hours reading the Bible and praying. For others, watching devotionals on YouTube or listening to sermons is helpful. Regardless of the means, it’s crucial to invest in our relationship with Jesus, learn to trust him more, and follow his guidance. Only then will we be ready for the storm.

Second, Jesus encourages us not to give up. “Take heart,” he says, “because I’ve overcome the world.” Not only does he help us prepare for trials, but he’s also the ultimate authority in the universe. He’s defeated Satan. His victory may not yet be evident, but the day will come when his reign will be fully visible in all its glory. We must remember that we don’t see the whole picture, and the end of the story—his complete triumph—is yet to come.

In closing, let’s return to that stream by my apartment building. During an unusually powerful storm, it overflowed and flooded the lowest level of our basement. It wasn’t much, but any amount is too much. Since then, we’ve built a wall to keep water out the next time the stream spills over its banks. We’re now much better prepared for the next deluge. Let’s adopt the same attitude toward our spiritual lives.

⁽¹⁾ John 16:33