Overcoming the Storms of Life

The storms of life come to all of us (Matthew 7:24-27). Anyone can appear to be doing well when the sun is shining and the waves are calm. When the storms of life rage, however, your house will fall if you are not anchored to the firm foundation of the Word. When you make God and His Word your only refuge and anchor, your soul will prosper and the stormy days will soon come to an end.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. (Psalm 112:5-8)

This passage from Psalm chapter 112 is a picture of a prosperous soul. It is a soul that will not be moved because he believes the report of the Lord above all other reports. It is a soul anchored in truth that will hold on to the report from the Word in difficult times and will triumph over every other negative report. It is a heart established in the Lord and His Word that will not be swayed when circumstances attempt to shake your confidence and trust in Him.

The last portion of this passage says, “…he shall not be afraid until he sees his desire upon his enemies.” This assures us we will witness the enemy’s defeat in our lives. Though this has already taken place on the cross, it is reinforced through you and me as we refuse to be moved by lying circumstances and evil reports. Instead, we remain anchored to God and His promises to us!

Jesus is our example. At John the Baptist’s death, His family’s rejection of Him, the condemnation of the Pharisees, and the storms at sea, Jesus did not allow Himself to waver in His knowledge of the Father’s love and care for Him. He only allowed Himself to be moved by the Father because He had His soul anchored in hope that was born of trust in His Father. Like Jesus, you can choose to trust your relationship with the Father and refuse to be moved by anything or anyone else. When you are trusting in Him alone, you are in a safe place—a place of security, peace, and freedom!

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 43:5)

David learned the priority of anchoring his soul in God instead of his environment or people. Sometimes you need to talk to your soul and tell it what to do, where to focus, and how things really are based on the truth. David spoke directly to his soul in Psalm 103:1:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.

David clearly knew the importance of directing his feelings to get in line with God and His Word. Again in Psalm 62:5-6 David commanded his soul to:

…wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be moved.

This is a powerful quote from David, who at the time was running for his life as Saul was in pursuit of him, attempting to kill him. David was hiding in caves and the situation looked dire, but God was his hope, refuge, and defense.

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)

Like David, you need to know your place of refuge. Whenever you face a difficult situation that shakes your confidence, make God your hope. That hope will bring you into the very presence of God where your soul can be still and know that He is God. It is in this place you cast your cares on Him and receive His peace and perspective.

Where is your soul anchored: in the Lord or in Jesus plus something else? Anchor your soul by placing your hope and trust in Him alone. When negative reports come and the wind and waves of life’s circumstances beat relentlessly against you, tell your soul to bless the Lord and keep your expectation in Him. Hope in Him, believe His promises, and anchor yourself in His faithfulness. A soul anchored in this kind of hope is a prosperous soul!

Adapted from Greg Mohr’s book, A Prosperous Soul.