“In the course of human events, it is not uncommon that you will face storms of monsoon or hurricane proportions.” That statement, taken from chapter four of Women Under Construction, is the reality for every person on the planet. We all encounter storms in life, many of which can threaten to topple us.
How do you survive these storms? When your life seems to be falling apart, when your dreams are destroyed, and when your whole world is in an uproar, is it possible to endure through the storm and emerge safely on the other side?
The answer is a resounding, “yes!” You can survive and, in fact, be better for it. Here are three pointers for successfully surviving storms:
1. Establish a firm foundation.
The ability to survive a storm depends primarily on your foundation. The time for that foundation to be built, though, is in advance, before the storm clouds even begin to form. If you wait until then, it’s already too late. A solid foundation is a preemptive measure, not a reactive one.
In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus described a wise builder who established a firm foundation for his house in preparation for potential storms. Specifically, Jesus was referring to the importance of placing trust in God and living according to His Word. Anyone who neglects to do so “is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:49, KJV)
2. Build a network of support.
Do you have friends and family that you can lean on during a time of crisis? Will they uplift you or will they let you down? A strong network of support can help sustain you throughout a storm, as these are the people you can turn to for advice, encouragement, comfort, prayer, and assistance.
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, KJV)
3. Learn from former and current storms.
A storm can make you bitter or it can make you better. The choice is yours. If you choose to learn from a storm, the lessons learned can greatly increase your ability to handle future storms. If you choose to ignore those lessons, however, you will likely become resentful while reaping no real benefits.
Additionally, while experiencing a storm may not be pleasant, it can result in tremendous growth. For that to happen, though, you must grab hold of its lessons and apply them to your life. Not only will those lessons help you prepare for the next storm, but they will make you a better person, too.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NKJV)
Storms are an unavoidable part of life. However, they are not to be feared. Rather, they can be seen as an opportunity to grow and mature. The circumstances may not be of your choosing, but the result is up to you. Not only can you survive; you can thrive.
The answer is a resounding, “yes!” You can survive and, in fact, be better for it. Here are three pointers for successfully surviving storms:
1. Establish a firm foundation.
The ability to survive a storm depends primarily on your foundation. The time for that foundation to be built, though, is in advance, before the storm clouds even begin to form. If you wait until then, it’s already too late. A solid foundation is a preemptive measure, not a reactive one.
In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus described a wise builder who established a firm foundation for his house in preparation for potential storms. Specifically, Jesus was referring to the importance of placing trust in God and living according to His Word. Anyone who neglects to do so “is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:49, KJV)
2. Build a network of support.
Do you have friends and family that you can lean on during a time of crisis? Will they uplift you or will they let you down? A strong network of support can help sustain you throughout a storm, as these are the people you can turn to for advice, encouragement, comfort, prayer, and assistance.
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, KJV)
3. Learn from former and current storms.
A storm can make you bitter or it can make you better. The choice is yours. If you choose to learn from a storm, the lessons learned can greatly increase your ability to handle future storms. If you choose to ignore those lessons, however, you will likely become resentful while reaping no real benefits.
Additionally, while experiencing a storm may not be pleasant, it can result in tremendous growth. For that to happen, though, you must grab hold of its lessons and apply them to your life. Not only will those lessons help you prepare for the next storm, but they will make you a better person, too.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NKJV)
Storms are an unavoidable part of life. However, they are not to be feared. Rather, they can be seen as an opportunity to grow and mature. The circumstances may not be of your choosing, but the result is up to you. Not only can you survive; you can thrive.
