Life is hard right now. It’s like we’ve been in this ongoing storm that seems to be getting worse and worse. Some of you have probably found positives amidst the storm, which is amazing! Whereas, some have probably felt stuck in the rain and lightening that seems to never end. No matter who you are, if you are in a storm, or one comes up, there is always hope for you. The storms end eventually; you just have to have faith.

The last couple of weeks have not been the best. I’ve been in a storm that I have no idea when it will end. The good news is that when I finally stopped being so stubborn and holding all my anxiety, sadness, and fear in and just gave it all to God…it was in that exact moment I started to see a glimmer of hope. The issue that many people have; even myself, is that when a storm hits us, or we are amidst the storm, we hold onto all of our struggles and dwell in it. That’s when we get in that state of mind of “I’m going to be miserable forever” or “There is absolutely no hope for me” or “Why would God still accept me after what I did, or what happened to me?”. It’s like in the times we need Jesus the most, some of us turn our backs, or become distant with Christ because we are ashamed of what we did, or we don’t feel worthy. I am guilty of this, but it is something that can be worked on. What I have tried to put in my mindset is that as soon as I tell myself, or even think I’m unworthy of God’s love, I excuse myself from whatever I may have been doing and pray. That seems to help because it helps train my mind to think as soon as anxiety, sadness, or fear overwhelm me, I talk to God and give it all to Him immediately before dwelling in it.

God is with us amidst the storm. It may not feel like it at times because that’s what your mind/the devil may be telling you, but God is there. You just have to choose faith and give it all to God so you can experience His amazing peace. “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” (John 16:33 ERV). God has already defeated the world by dying on the cross to save us of our sins. If He did that, what makes you think He can’t save you and put an end to the current storm you are in? “Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 ERV). The first step to get you out of the storm you may be facing is to pray and cast all your anxiety, sadness, fear, or whatever it may be to Jesus! He cares and loves you so much. He died on the cross for you! Talk about true love! “A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life–life that is full and good” (John 10:10 ERV). The devil may tell you lies in your mind that makes you feel unworthy, or that you will be stuck in this storm you’re in forever. Those are the lies of the devil because he enjoys it when you’re miserable. Anything that brings you down is not from the Lord. The devil wants to see you be miserable and not call on God. The devil doesn’t want you to have a happy life. But God does. God wants you to have a happy and successful life with Him! He wants to hear about your accomplishments even when the world doesn’t want to hear them. A life with God is full and good. A life with the devil is tiring and miserable. Choose God! He loves you so much! If you just give Him a chance to show you His love and peace amidst the storm, you will be transformed.

I pray that whatever storm you may be currently in that you choose God. With choosing God, you choose the full and good life. You choose peace, over tribulation. God will never ever give up on you. It doesn’t matter what you did in the past, or what you did in the present…God forgives! He is nothing like this world. He sees you. He hears you. He loves you. Choose Him and have peace amidst the storm. “The God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Romans 15:33 NIV).

Amen.