Everything that truly matters about my understanding of God, I didn’t learn from a concordance or solely from scriptures. Instead, I learned it during a storm, on the edge of a cliff, when I was so sick that I wasn’t sure if I’d survive. I learned about God’s love, about the Lord as my shepherd, and about dwelling in the secret place of the Almighty through this crisis, not through successful events, advancements, awards, or accolades. I went through sickness, pain, heartbreak, chaos, trouble, frustration, humiliation, embarrassment, disgrace, depression, and unbearable grief. Everything I ever learned about the Lord came through that storm, in a fight when the odds were stacked against me.

he key is to stay steady, not to back down, not to give in, and not to give up. Just stay steady and focus!

I like to call storms “toll gates.” They’re like points where you pay your dues to keep moving forward. Anyone can be steady when there’s no storm. Being steady, not hysterical, frantic, anxious, worried, or fretful, but truly steady in the midst of a storm, that’s the real skill of a leader.

The problem is that most things start out calm. The journeys of our lives often begin calmly. The disciples on the sea with Jesus started out calmly too. Jesus gave them one command, “Let us cross to the other side.” But here’s the thing: God isn’t big on details. He doesn’t always reveal what will happen along the way. There are things that will frighten you on the journey. It’s not the takeoff that you should be concerned about because most things start well. Most business ventures, marriages, relationships, and more begin smoothly. It’s the challenges that happen in the middle that test your ability to remain steady.

We build stature, wisdom, knowledge, tenacity, obedience, and more through storms. Reading this blog post can give you understanding, but until you have a personal experience, you won’t fully grasp it.

Everyone is trying to get to their “other side,” wherever that may be predestined by God. He knows exactly where he wants you to go because he knows the end from the beginning. But on the journey, storms arise, and you discover who you are in the storm. It’s only under pressure that you truly understand your tendencies. No matter who you are or will be, you’ll face storms. They’re built into God’s plan to get you to your destination. You need to realize that God has equipped you with tools to navigate the storms, just like a fire extinguisher, an emergency exit, a life raft, or an oxygen mask.

One challenge is that storms are noisy. Everyone seems to have advice: “Hold back,” “Turn the wheel,” “Push through,” “Throw off the weights,” “Cast the anchor,” “Put up the sail.” Amidst the confusion, the real art I’ve learned is not trying to fix the storm because it’s not ours to fix; we can only survive. “Peace, be still.”

Remember, “This too shall pass.” Take the pandemic, for example. Many lives were lost, businesses closed, and it felt like the end. But now, we’re going about our days like nothing happened. We tend to focus on the negative aspects of our situations when we should focus on what God is doing. To do this, our perspective on the storm must change. God allows storms to give us experiences that nobody else will have in their lifetime. This way, you’ll know Him in a unique way. Great destinies are born in great storms, and unusual anointing or influence comes from extraordinary challenges. The Bible says, “I will establish you after you have suffered a while.” Great sea captains are forged in rough seas and deep waters.

I’m currently going through something without a point of reference, and it may seem like I have it all together. Still, I want to tell you that the storm is not your fault. Stop allowing that accusing voice to torment you. Satan is an accuser of the brethren. He’ll question your ability to achieve great things, but storms come to everyone—whether you’re anointed, unsaved, backslidden, or fire-branded.

We often forget the power of God’s presence because we’re addicted to His performance and miracles. If He’s in our boat, there’s no reason to fear the storm. The storm is often a lie, amplified by the enemy or life to make us think it’s worse than it is. It’s our fear that often overwhelms us, so we must remain steady. Whether people like you or not, whether they say “Hosanna” or “Crucify him,” whether you’re at a wedding or a funeral, when things are up or down, don’t take your hand off the wheel. Keep aiming for the other side. God has equipped us for every situation. We’re not called to be emotional leaders, so we can’t be reactive. Keep a steady head to make calm, accurate decisions.

The most intriguing part for me is that when they crossed to the other side, the first person they encountered was a demon-possessed man. Passing one test successfully only opens you up to another. Once you learn this, you’ll find happiness in the midst of it all. I want to see what God has in store on the other side of this test, so I’ll fight the good fight of faith.

In every major move of God, there will always be some form of storm. When you face your Goliath, you’ve come into your kingdom. It may not always look like the best of places, but your manifestation is here, and your skills and talents are on display. If God trusts you with that level of storm, you must be destined for greatness. So, “peace, be still!”