Finding Joy in the Storm

Storms are rarely welcomed, yet they are often misunderstood. When hardship comes, it’s easy to assume something has gone wrong—that we’ve missed God, failed Him, or stepped outside His will. But Scripture and life both tell a different story.

Think about a ship at sea. A ship only encounters storms when it has left the safety of the dock. Storms don’t hit ships that stay tied down and unmoving. Storms happen because the ship is going somewhere.

In the same way, trials often appear not because we are stuck, but because God is moving us forward.

Storms Are Evidence of Movement

Remaining at the dock feels safe. It’s familiar. It’s predictable. But ships aren’t built to stay at the dock—they’re built to carry people and cargo to new places. Likewise, our faith was never meant to remain shallow, comfortable, or untested.

When God leads us forward, resistance often follows. Growth stretches us. Obedience challenges us. New seasons require new strength. Storms become part of the journey, not as punishment, but as preparation.

Trials Shape What Comfort Cannot

Trials reveal what comfort hides. They expose where our trust truly lies and invite us to lean more fully on God rather than our own understanding. In the storm, we learn to listen more closely, pray more honestly, and depend more deeply on His presence.

Scripture reminds us that God does not waste suffering. What feels like opposition today often becomes the foundation for strength tomorrow. Faith that has been tested becomes faith that can carry others.

Rejoice—You’re Being Taken Somewhere New

Joy in the storm does not mean pretending pain doesn’t exist. It means recognizing that pain is not pointless. If you are walking through difficulty, it may be because God is leading you into a deeper understanding of His love, a stronger confidence in His faithfulness, and a greater capacity to reflect Christ to others.

The storm is not the destination. It’s part of the passage.

So take heart. If the waters are rough, it’s because you’re moving forward. God is still at work. He is still with you. And on the other side of the storm is a strength and intimacy with Him that could only be formed at sea.

If you’re in the storm today, rejoice—not because it’s easy, but because God is not finished with you.

Pastor Scott Acklin