You probably bought into the idea that following Jesus would make your life easier.
Most people do not say it out loud, but they expect a shield.
They think obedience buys protection from disease, job loss, or broken hearts.
Then the ground shakes, the wind howls, and the illusion of a trouble-free life falls apart.
The storm arrives anyway.
This should not surprise you if you read the accounts in the Bible.
In the gospel of Mark, chapter four, verses thirty-five through forty-one, Jesus tells His disciples to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the lake.
These men were obedient.
They did exactly what Jesus commanded.
Yet, a furious storm came up, and waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
The presence of Jesus did not keep the wind away.
He was in the very same boat, sleeping on a cushion while the disciples panicked.
These men were experienced fishermen who knew the Sea of Galilee well.
They knew how to handle rough water.
If they believed they were going to drown, this was not a mild breeze.
It was a violent, life-threatening situation.
Your obedience does not buy you a pass from difficulty.
Following Jesus will often lead you directly into a storm.
But the account does not end with a shipwreck.
Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, Peace, be still (Mark 4:39 [NIV]).
The storm stopped.
He did not prevent the storm from starting, but He kept the water from destroying them.
This pattern is consistent throughout Scripture.
In the book of Isaiah, chapter forty-three, verse two, God addresses His people.
He says, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you (Isaiah 43:2 [ESV]).
Notice the specific word choices in that text.
It does not say if you pass through the waters.
It says when.
The struggle is guaranteed.
The water will rise, the rivers will rush, and the fire will burn.
But the promise is presence.
God does not promise to take away the river.
He promises that the river will not drown you because He is there.
When you face your own crisis, you must change how you view the wind.
You must stop treating your struggles as proof of God’s anger or absence.
The storm is simply a natural part of living in a broken world.
It does not mean you lack faith.
It does not mean you did something wrong to deserve the trouble.
Instead of trying to find an immediate escape route, look for where Jesus is standing.
He is not distant.
He is carrying you through the very waves that threaten to pull you under.
To live out this truth, you must take active steps today.
First, stop asking God why the storm happened.
That question keeps your mind focused on the wind instead of the Savior.
Instead, ask Him to show you how to stand firm in the middle of it.
Second, rely on the promises of Scripture rather than your changing emotions.
Your feelings will tell you that you are sinking and that God has forgotten you.
Use the truth of His word to quiet those thoughts.
Third, look back at your past.
Identify the moments when you thought you would not survive, yet you did.
Recognize that it was Jesus who carried you through those dark seasons.
He will do the same today.