Facing the Hurricane

by Kris Williams
(Pearl, Ms)

Last month we talked about being caught in the storms of life and what we should do to survive those storms. Keeping Christ as our focus during the trials and tribulations that are part of this life, will keep us from feeling defeated and victimized, and allow us to celebrate as we watch Jesus work in our lives!

There are troubles in life that hit us like a tornado….one minute it’s kind of dark and raining and the next minute the house is gone. These are the sorts of troubles I was referring to last month. This month I want to address another kind of storm – the Hurricane. Hurricanes are the things in life that we do not think we can bear, are not short lived events, and are the things that cause us to truly suffer. These things are just terrible. There is no bright side. There is no way to make them easier to bear. These things are just hard and painful….and we have no choice but to face them.

Before we go any further, I’ll give you some real life examples….
Sitting in the doctor’s office and being told “you have cancer” is a tornado. Living with cancer is a hurricane.
Your spouse telling you that he or she wants a divorce is a tornado. Facing life without that spouse is a hurricane.
Realizing that a loved one has passed away is a tornado. Going through life with an empty place where that person should be is a hurricane.

What will you do when you face a hurricane?

What if, just what if, you could face the hurricanes of life filled with peace and victory?

Let’s look at what Jesus did as His hurricane loomed in the distance:

When faced with betrayal, arrest, beatings, and ultimately the cross, Jesus went to the Garden to pray….pick up with me in Matthew 26 (NIV)…
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Let’s look at that passage a little closer and see what it offers us when we are faced with life’s “hurricanes”

One: Go to the ONE who can help you through the storm
Jesus told the disciples that he would be crucified. He told Peter that he would deny Him 3 times. Jesus confided in His friends about what He was about to face, but when Jesus faced His “hurricane”, He went to the Father.

Two: Be honest with God and yourself about your situation
Look back at verses 39, 42, and 44. Each time Jesus said in essence, “If we can do this another way, I’d like for us to do that. I really do not want to go through with this.”
We are NOT Jesus Christ. When we face troubles, we do not know what the outcome will be as He did. Therefore, we need to be honest with God and ourselves about how weak and frightened we are. When we are honest about our weaknesses, it is easier for us to rush to God for His strength!

Three: Trust that God knows best
Look at those same verses. Once Jesus asked for a way out, He said “but not my will but thine”.
That is a beautiful picture of trust is our Heavenly Father and total submission.

Thankfully, God allowed Jesus to continue His path to the cross, that we may all be saved! As a Christian, you must believe that God’s knows the complete picture, and that HE is maybe using you to accomplish Kingdom things that you may never know about until heaven!


What hurricanes do we face in life?

How are “hurricane” troubles different from “tornado” troubles?

What is the difference in
-being strong and facing a “hurricane” head on and
-going to God, admitting your weakness, and trusting Him?

Have you considered that God could be using your “hurricane” to make a kingdom difference in someone’s life?


Father God, you are so holy. You have proven throughout Scripture, through the lives of people I know and throughout my own life that you are truly trustworthy. I know that your ways are not mine. Help me to trust you as storms arise. Lord, I want you to use me to make a Kingdom impact. Please help me to remember that when the storm is on the horizon. Amen