To Comfort Us In The Storm
“ 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’” —Matthew 1:21-23
“ 14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” —Hebrews 4:14-16
“ 17 But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” —Jonah 1:17
Big Idea: Never allow the presence of a storm to cause you to doubt the presence of God.
“ 1 From the inside of the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.’ 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look up again toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 The roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O my God. 7 When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
8 Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.’ 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” —Jonah 2:1-10
(1.) If you’re feeling overwhelmed in the storm, look up to God
“ 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” —Matthew 4:23
“ 2 In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” —Jonah 2:2
(2.) When we’re in the storm, remember that God is working even if we don’t feel it
“ 3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.’ 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look up again toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 The roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O my God.” —Jonah 2:3-6
(3.) When you’re in the storm, fix your mind on God’s goodness and reject temporary fixes
“ 7 When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
8 Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9a But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.” —Jonah 2:7-9a
(4.) When you place your life in God’s hands, he will make a way for you
“‘ 9b What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.’ 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” —Jonah 2:9-10