LWML > Resources > Quarterly Magazine > etc...

Celebrating Life in the Midst of Life’s Storms
(Study Notes Included)

By Rev. Kim DeVries
[All verses taken from the NIV]

OPENING PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes we feel overwhelmed by life. We may grow tired and weary, weak and discouraged. We may question whether You love us and even care about what is happening to us. We may fear that there may be something in our past that can never be forgiven and that prevents us from being close to You. We may find it difficult to rejoice in Your goodness and to find joy in our relationship with You. Open our hearts now as we study Your Word together to hear and believe the wonderful message of Your love for us and Your plan of salvation. Strengthen
our trust in You as our loving, caring Father so that we can find the joy in life that You intend for all of Your children. In Jesus, our Savior’s Name, we pray. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

It seems easy to celebrate life when everything is going well for us, our health is good, and our finances are secure. But how do we celebrate when the dark clouds of doubt, disease, despair, and discouragement fill our lives? How can we rejoice when we question God’s very existence, agonize over our failures and mistakes, and wonder if God could ever love us and forgive us?

A woman once told her pastor that she wondered if God was interested in her life and even cared about what was happening to her. She felt totally unwanted and unloved by anyone. She is not alone in those fears. Describe the feelings expressed in the following verses and consider whether you’ve ever felt the same way:

Job 3:25-26 What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.

Psalm 13:1-3 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?  

Here both Job and David express a weariness of life and a feeling that God has deserted them and forgotten them.

As our Lord began His ministry, He went into the desert for 40 days to fast and meditate. While there the devil came to Jesus and tempted Him three times. In his tempting words, Satan questioned Jesus’ very identity as the Son of God. Read Matthew 4:1-11 and pay close attention to verses 3 and 6.

How does Satan use our trials to cause us to question whether we are a son or daughter of God?

Just as Jesus was tempted to question His identity, so are we when we face problems and setbacks.  We wonder why God permits certain things to happen to us if He truly loves us.   We fear that He doesn't really care about us or what happens to us.  These feelings can be devastating to our faith and relationship to God if our thoughts end by looking at ourselves instead of turning to God and His word.

How did Jesus meet the devil’s challenges? (See verses 4, 7, and 10.)

Jesus quoted the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy three times, showing that God's sons and daughters should rely on God' word, not put God to the test, and worship and serve only Him.

How can we apply Jesus’ words to our own temptations to despair and doubt?

The word of God and the sacraments are wonderful sources of God's power in our life and reminders of God's care and concern for each of us. For example, each time we come to the Lord's altar we are visibly reminded that Jesus shed His blood for us and that all of our sins were forgiven by Him at Calvary's cross - and that we are receiving the benefits of His work of salvation in the sacrament.  We need not test God by seeking additional signs and wonders to prove His love for us.

Even though we believe in God and are faithful to Him, there may still be dark days in our life. In those difficult times we can rediscover and celebrate the joy that we can have as believers in our loving God by turning to Scripture.

Read Habakkuk 3:17, 18. What is the prophet here affirming in the midst of the tough times of life and what can we learn here?

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior .

Habakkuk is affirming that even in the worst of circumstances God's people can find joy in their relationship with God.

A program on a nature channel describes birds that live at the tip of South America where there are high winds and cold, stormy weather. These birds build their nests and raise their young in the cliffs overlooking the ocean and have learned to live and
thrive in that bleak environment.

As Christians we, too, must learn to nest in the inevitable gales of life. Read and discuss how James 1:2-4 tells us this is possible.
Read the following Scriptures and discuss together how God helps us to survive in the midst of life’s storms and tempests.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

God gives us strength to persevere in faith during the trials of our life so that we will become complete and mature Christians.  Without times of trial our faith might remain undeveloped and immature .

Read the following Scriptures and discuss together how God helps us to survive in the midst of life's storms and tempests.

Genesis 26:24

That night the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father, Abraham.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Psalm 34:18-19

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  A righteous man may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all;

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

In these verses God affirms that He is always with us wherever we go and whatever we are undergoing.  He will see us through our trials and give us Divine strength and help.

A young soldier in Iraq writes to his pastor that he finds great comfort in Psalm 46: 1-3, 7. Why do you think these verses would be helpful to a soldier serving in a difficult and dangerous place? What comfort can you find in these verses wherever you are presently serving God?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

In the next verses, God affirms that He cares for us and knows what is happening to us. Read and discuss them together.

Job 23:10

But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew l0:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

What additional promises does God make to us that give us hope in our struggles? Read Isaiah 40:29-31.

He gives strength to the weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

A "second wind" describes a moment during a race when a runner experiences a fresh burst of energy. God will give us a "second wind" in life so that we can continue our walk with Him in faith and hope. At the end of our journey, there will be joy for us just as there was for Jesus at the end of His earthly pilgrimage.

From all these verses we can see that the ability to celebrate life does not depend on sunny circumstances or the absence of conflict and stress. Rather it comes from knowing that whatever we face in life, God loves us, He cares about us, He gives us second chances, He is always there to help us, we have fellow Christians to cheer us on, and that there are joys ahead for each of us whether in this world or the next.

CLOSING

Give those present an opportunity to share how they have found in their own life God’s joy in the midst of life’s storms.

Sing or recite together the comforting words of the hymn, “If You But Trust in God to Guide You” (LW 420: also found in TLH 518 and LSB 750).

Listen to the song With You, With Me sung by Angela Dittmar. Click Here to download the MP3. ©2007. Permission granted for use by LWML.

Pastor Kim DeVries, senior Pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas, has served as a pastoral counselor on the zone and district level LWML. He and his wife, Cathy, have written several Bible studies and other resources for the LWML. They have two adult sons.