HERE COME THE HURRICANES....

[Godstar]

Can you help me?

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:27 PM

From:

To:  

 

Hello, Tonisha. My name is ____ and I also live in Lake Charles.

 
Someone close to me mentioned your site to me and I almost had a sense of relief. I'm going through a lot in life and for awhile, am wondering if you could help me find out why such a long storm. If so can you please contact me asap at _____. Thank you and GOD bless!

Sent from my iPhone

 

Subject:Walking over the Storm

Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:43 AM

From:

To:

 

 

Hello ________,

 

Thank you for taking the time to write me, I sensed the feelings behind your heart as I read your letter.

 

We go through the storm, so that we learn to appreciate the blessings that come from the light of the sun.  Trouble does not last always, and the harder it seems the greater the gift is inside of you.  Be still, and wait on God to make your burdens light.  Examine yourself, purge your spirit of all uncleanness, and cry out to God late in the Midnight hour.  Joy will overflow within your heart by the morning. 

 

Study Matthew 14:24-32 it teaches you how to walk over the storm in your life, for it is only a test.  Therefore seek knowledge, and understanding to overcome the trials and tribulations of this life.

 

We all experience dark times, even Jesus the Son of God had to endure the feeling of being forsaken by His Father.   It is after the storm when we see that God was with us the whole time to carry us through.  He will deliver us all, just keep the faith and believe.

 

We have the promise from God's word that he will deliver us. Psalm 34:19 tells us, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." And Isaiah 43:2 promises, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."

Matthew 14:24-32 shows us some real lessons of how we need to react when our life seems in turmoil and upheaval.

 

Verse 24

 

But the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.

 

Verse 25

 

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

 

The fourth watch of the night was between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Are there times when you are lying awake late at night unable to sleep? You may be burdened down with worries and concerns. Your mind may be wracked with despair and confusion. In the midst of their storm Jesus came walking to them to help them. No matter what terrible or frightening situation you may be facing, you need to realize that Jesus is coming walking to you on the waters of the storm. He is there. All you have to do is look for him.

 

Verse 26

 

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.

 

We are in the midst of our struggles busy trying to solve the problems ourselves, and we never look to see if Jesus is around to help us. We may even feel that God has abandoned us, and maybe start to think the tempest we're facing is some kind of punishment from Him. So we never look for Jesus. And if we do spot something resembling the Lord, we assume it must be a shadow, an illusion, a ghost.

We are often storm-tossed, perplexed, in despair. The Savior seems far away. But all the time ... He is near at hand."

 

Verse 27

 

But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

 

As soon as they cried out in fear, Jesus spoke to them words of comfort. This verse tells us he spoke to them "immediately." When we seem overwhelmed by the turbulence of this life, it is then that Jesus speaks to us. They thought themselves abandoned, and then in the dim twilight they would see or feel once again the tokens of His presence. He was coming to them through the storm."

 

Verse 28

 

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water."

 

Now our focus in this story is going to shift to Peter. Peter makes a bold statement indicating absolute trust in Jesus. We might think that Peter was being impulsive here, and that's why he got in trouble when he tried to walk on the water. But I think Peter is simply reaching out to his Lord in faith. Peter is simply saying, Lord if you're really there, reveal it to me. When we feel all alone and helpless, we may wonder if God has abandoned us. Perhaps all we can see are the boiling mists from the tempest clouding our vision of the Lord. At those times it's all right for us to say, Lord if your really there, reveal yourself to me. God understands our doubt and our confusion. He knows how we can become so easily distracted by the churning storms around us. If you're not sure if God is with you in your dark time, call out to him. He will reveal himself to you.

 

Verse 29

 

He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

 

Jesus said come. Whenever we need to find Jesus, whenever we need to meet him and spend some time alone with him, he says, Come. The Lord wants his children to come to him. He loves to bless us and help us through our difficulties. If you are facing a fury of trouble, Jesus is saying to you, Come. Come for help, come for strength, come for comfort.

This verse tells us that Peter actually got out of the boat and walked on the water. Jesus was walking above the storm. Now he invites Peter to come, and we find Peter is also able to walk above the storm. No matter what tempest is howling around you, Jesus is inviting you to walk above the storm. He is saying come.

 

Verse 30

 

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."

 

What happened? Peter was doing fine. He was walking above the storm. The same thing happened to Peter that so often happens to us. He took his eyes off of Jesus and started looking at the storm-driven waves. As long as he kept his eyes on the Lord, he was able to walk above the storm. But as soon as he looked at the raging storm around him, he was afraid and began to sink.

 

We can fault Peter, but the truth is we do the same thing. We spend most of our time inspecting all the bad things that are happening to us, and worrying how we're going to survive the mess we're in, when we should be looking to Jesus. The result is we sink deeper and deeper into despair and confusion. We need to keep our eyes on Christ. Our focus must be centered on the one who tells us, Be of good courage, it is I, have no fear. When we stop looking at the storms around us and start looking to the Lord, we will find ourselves walking above the storm on top of the waves.

As long as we look away from every other object to Jesus only, we can experience a supernatural life. But the minute we become occupied with ourselves or our circumstances, we begin to sink. Then we must cry to Christ for restoration and divine enablement."

This verse closes with Peter crying out, Lord save me. If you feel that you are sinking in deeper and deeper and it seems that you are drowning in your troubles, cry out to Jesus, Lord save me.

 

Verse 31

 

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

 

There are many times we lack faith and we have doubts. Peter was no different than most of us. So these words to Peter are really to us: "O people of little faith, why do you doubt?" Just like Peter, doubts enter our minds when we become fearful. God really wants us to live by faith, not fear. O Lord, help increase our faith!

As soon as Peter cried out for help, Jesus was there to rescue him. As soon as we call out for help, the Lord is there to rescue us.

 

Verse 32

 

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

 

As soon as Jesus got into the boat, the wind and storm ceased. As soon as we let Jesus come into our time of difficulty, the winds and storms of confusion will cease.  Are you trying to handle it yourself, but you are still miserable? Allow Jesus to enter your time of difficulty. He will take you above the storms and give you peace and comfort.

 

Verse 22

 

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

 

This verse should have actually been at the beginning of the study but I wanted to conclude with it. Notice that it was Jesus who sent the disciples into the boat to go across the sea. He knew he was sending them into a storm, but he sent them anyway. Sometimes God allows us to go through storms so we can learn to trust in him. Whatever difficulty you may be going through, know that Jesus has allowed you to go through this storm. He cares about you, and he wants you to learn how to put your complete trust and faith in him.

 

I hope this helps you overcome the storm in your life, and remember to look to the hills from where your help cometh.  May God Bless, and Keep You Forevermore.

 

With Love,

 

Tonisha Fortune

 

 

Subject:Walking over the Storm

Thursday, August 27, 2009 12:00 PM

From:

To:

 

Thank you very very much my sister! This is what I need in my life. God bless you!!! That was awesome!