Overcoming Life's Storms Through Faith in Christ

 

Summary

In the midst of life's storms, the greatest peril we face is not the external circumstances but the internal tempest of unbelief. When Jesus was awakened by His disciples during the storm, He first addressed their lack of faith before calming the winds and waves. This teaches us that our own doubts and fears are often more dangerous than the challenges we face. The ruling of hearts is a greater task than the governing of nature, and thus, we must first seek to master our own souls. By doing so, we can overcome any external difficulties.

Reflecting on our journey with Christ, we must remember His unwavering love and power. He has been with us through past trials, sustaining us and providing for us. Doubting His love or power is both unreasonable and unfounded. The same God who created the universe and redeemed us is more than capable of delivering us from our current troubles. Our circumstances are not beyond His control, and His wisdom is perfect, even when we cannot understand His ways.

Moreover, we are in the same "boat" with Christ. Our lives are hidden with Him, and His honor is at stake in our salvation. He will not allow us to be lost, for His reputation as Savior is bound to our deliverance. The storms we face are under His command, and He uses them for our good. Even when He seems silent or asleep, it is because there is no real danger. His presence with us is our assurance of safety.

For those who are not yet His disciples, the call is to trust in His ability to save. No sin is too great for His forgiveness, and no heart is too hard for His transformation. The gospel is for those who recognize their complete need for Him. Our own righteousness or feelings cannot contribute to our salvation; it is entirely the work of Christ. Trusting in Him means looking away from ourselves and our inadequacies and resting in His sufficiency.

Key Takeaways:

- Unbelief as the Greatest Peril: The internal struggle of unbelief is often more dangerous than external circumstances. Mastering our own fears and doubts is crucial to overcoming life's challenges. [01:09]

- Christ's Unwavering Love and Power: Reflect on Christ's past faithfulness and provision. Doubting His love or power is unreasonable, as He is capable of delivering us from any trouble. [07:50]

- Being in the Same "Boat" with Christ: Our lives are hidden with Christ, and His honor is tied to our salvation. He will not allow us to be lost, as His reputation as Savior is at stake. [12:29]

- Trusting in Christ's Sufficiency: Salvation is entirely the work of Christ. Our own righteousness or feelings cannot contribute; we must rest in His sufficiency. [25:01]

- Facing the Storms with Faith: Even when Christ seems silent, His presence assures our safety. The storms are under His command, and He uses them for our good. [19:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to the Storm
- [00:30] - Disciples' Fear and Unbelief
- [01:09] - The Peril of Unbelief
- [02:07] - Mastering Our Own Souls
- [03:20] - Comfort for Christ's Disciples
- [04:20] - Doubting Christ's Love
- [06:38] - Doubting Christ's Power
- [09:19] - Trusting God's Wisdom
- [11:15] - In the Same Boat with Christ
- [13:14] - God's Power in the Storm
- [15:17] - Trusting the Father's Hand
- [17:01] - The Worst Outcome
- [19:08] - Christ's Sleep as Assurance
- [21:20] - Addressing Non-Disciples
- [25:01] - Trusting in Christ's Sufficiency
- [38:46] - Perseverance in Christian Life

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 8:26: "He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the first thing Jesus addressed when He was awakened by His disciples during the storm? [00:58]
2. How did Jesus demonstrate His power over nature in the story of the storm? [01:37]
3. What was the disciples' reaction to the storm, and how did Jesus respond to their fear? [00:30]
4. What assurance do we have from being in the same "boat" with Christ, according to the sermon? [12:29]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon suggest that unbelief is a greater peril than external circumstances? [01:09]
2. How does the sermon explain the significance of Christ's presence during life's storms? [19:08]
3. What does it mean for Christ's honor to be tied to our salvation, as mentioned in the sermon? [12:29]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between our doubts and Christ's sufficiency? [25:01]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent "storm" in your life. How did your faith or doubts influence your response to it? [00:58]
2. In what ways can you remind yourself of Christ's past faithfulness and provision during challenging times? [06:38]
3. How can you actively work on mastering your own fears and doubts in your daily life? [02:07]
4. What steps can you take to trust in Christ's sufficiency rather than relying on your own righteousness or feelings? [25:01]
5. When facing a situation where Christ seems silent, how can you find assurance in His presence? [19:08]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with unbelief. What practical steps can you take to address this? [01:09]
7. How can you encourage someone who is not yet a disciple to trust in Christ's ability to save and transform? [21:20]

Devotional

Day 1: The Internal Tempest of Unbelief
In the midst of life's storms, the greatest danger often lies not in the external circumstances but in the internal tempest of unbelief. When Jesus was awakened by His disciples during the storm, He first addressed their lack of faith before calming the winds and waves. This highlights the importance of mastering our own fears and doubts, as they can be more perilous than the challenges we face. The ruling of hearts is a greater task than the governing of nature, and thus, we must first seek to master our own souls. By doing so, we can overcome any external difficulties. [01:09]

Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where unbelief has taken root. How can you actively combat this unbelief with faith today?


Day 2: Christ's Faithfulness Through Trials
Reflecting on our journey with Christ, we must remember His unwavering love and power. He has been with us through past trials, sustaining us and providing for us. Doubting His love or power is both unreasonable and unfounded. The same God who created the universe and redeemed us is more than capable of delivering us from our current troubles. Our circumstances are not beyond His control, and His wisdom is perfect, even when we cannot understand His ways. [07:50]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: Recall a past trial where you experienced Christ's faithfulness. How can this memory strengthen your trust in His power and love today?


Day 3: Our Lives Hidden with Christ
We are in the same "boat" with Christ. Our lives are hidden with Him, and His honor is at stake in our salvation. He will not allow us to be lost, for His reputation as Savior is bound to our deliverance. The storms we face are under His command, and He uses them for our good. Even when He seems silent or asleep, it is because there is no real danger. His presence with us is our assurance of safety. [12:29]

Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself daily that your life is hidden with Christ, especially during challenging times?


Day 4: Resting in Christ's Sufficiency
For those who are not yet His disciples, the call is to trust in His ability to save. No sin is too great for His forgiveness, and no heart is too hard for His transformation. The gospel is for those who recognize their complete need for Him. Our own righteousness or feelings cannot contribute to our salvation; it is entirely the work of Christ. Trusting in Him means looking away from ourselves and our inadequacies and resting in His sufficiency. [25:01]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying on your own strength rather than resting in Christ's sufficiency? How can you shift your focus to His power today?


Day 5: Assurance in the Storm
Even when Christ seems silent, His presence assures our safety. The storms are under His command, and He uses them for our good. The disciples' fear during the storm was met with Christ's calm assurance, reminding us that His presence is our peace. Trusting in His sovereignty allows us to face life's storms with faith, knowing that He is always in control. [19:08]

Nahum 1:7 (ESV): "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of Christ's presence in your life, especially when facing storms or challenges?

Quotes

There is always more peril to a Christian in his own unbelief than in the most adverse circumstances by which he may be surrounded. Our Lord did not first rebuke the winds and waves and then speak to the disciples, but he dealt with the chief peril first by rebuking their unbelief. [00:01:11]

The ruling of hearts is a greater thing than the governing of winds and waves, so beloved when we have to battle with trouble let us always begin with ourselves, our own fears, mistrusts, suspicions, selfishness, and self-will, for the chief danger lies there. [00:02:02]

Look back at your past life and see how patiently he is born with you. Your slowness in learning has not made your divine teacher angry, but he has still gone on teaching you. Do you remember when he first called you by his grace and what you were when he called you? [00:04:31]

After all this do you mistrust him? Can you do so? Will you imitate the language of the unbelieving Israelites and say is it because there were no graves on shore that the Lord has brought us out upon this stormy sea? Do you suspect that he has brought you thus far? [00:05:08]

Whenever a foaming billow smote the ship and agitated the breasts of the disciples, it moved their master also. He had to bear all the tossing of the waves, the wild leaping of the vessel from the billow's base to the billow's crown. He must have felt it just as much as they did. [00:11:22]

He can never be either unable to save or unfaithful to his promise to save all who trust him. Well does Dr. Watts write his honor is engaged to save the meanest of his sheep, all that his heavenly father gave his hands securely keep. [00:12:57]

There was not a single blast of the tempest but Jehovah's might had sent it, nor did a single wave leap up in apparent wrath but with God's permission or at his command. It was his power outside the vessel that was putting them into peril. [00:13:19]

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ go to sleep in a storm? Why just because he knew that all was right. Why should he not go to sleep? The great loving heart of Christ would not have rested if his children had been in any danger. [00:19:12]

Possibly the Lord sees it will be best for you to bear your troubles a little longer for you are getting good out of them. He means to leave you in the furnace for a little while because he can see that your dross is being taken away. [00:20:38]

You are seeking Christ dear friend and longing to be saved, but for want of faith you are still in trouble of soul. What is your real condition? Perhaps you say I labor under a deep sense of sin, I've been exceedingly guilty. [00:22:55]

He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. It is not possible that you are beyond his ability to save. There have been other persons saved and many of them who have sinned just as much as you have done. [00:25:07]

Your perseverance in grace is no more to be your own act apart from Christ than is your first hope in him. You are to look to Christ to be the omega as well as to be the alpha to be the zed as well as to be the a of the Christian alphabet. [00:38:56]

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Transcript
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