Sermon On A Storm Of Life

Alice Tyszka, a female author of possibly Polish origin once remarked: “The key to living through storms is embracing them. Taking every moment of beauty, every sadness, and knowing it is your own. Leaving the ones that have passed, letting go, facing the newest times, with even the smallest bit of courage. Though it can be terrifying to try, taking on the storm, and then watching it pass by.” Isaiah 41:10 reminds us: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

After a turbulent storm usually comes stillness, peace and tranquility. A "storm of life" is a symbolic metaphor for the complex, emotional or abstract experiences of life. It challenges the basic foothold of unity, faith, and resilience, often with a residual feeling of overwhelming and unpredictability. It can cause havoc and pain in its wake. These difficult seasons test inner strength and can lead to fear or doubt, but they can also be seen as opportunities for growth, purification, and deeper reliance on faith, with the constant belief that they are temporary and ultimately serve a purpose, even if that may be disguised or unclear at the time.

Storms can be considered the darker clouds of life. It is said that God works in mysterious ways. The death of a loved one may be considered as one of its most destructive elements. It is metaphorically described as a powerful, upsetting force of devastation, sometimes seen as a challenging transition, the completion of a cycle, or a path to a new existence. However, in reality, the zest of life effectively becomes a dormant component depending on one's spiritual or philosophical beliefs.

Death is an inevitable factor. Its distinctive in its biological cessation, and marks the end of a time. It is a unique experience for each individual that can open new doors which may portray cultural symbolism and philosophical meanings. It is usually viewed as subjective, but it's also seen as a universal, natural process, a fundamental part of life, and a gradual process rather than a single moment in time, making it both personal and universally shared. Its "distinctiveness" lies in the contrast between its finality as an event and its profound, ongoing impact on the living and consciousness. While it may sometimes be a release for the afflicted, it does leave painful scars. The death of a loved one profoundly impacts people emotionally (sadness, anger, guilt, shock, loneliness), physically (fatigue, sleep/appetite changes, body pains, weakened immunity), and mentally (difficulty concentrating, confusion, changes in brain wiring). It often evokes the searching question: “Why?” This grief response reshapes lives, causing deep trauma and creating voids, but, if the right perspective is allowed, it can also foster new strengths, deeper connections, and greater compassion as individuals rebuild their lives around the loss, though it can sometimes lead to prolonged or complex grief.

Storms call for faith. Whether one is a follower of Christ through their life is a matter of personal choice which is often influenced by individual circumstances. Faith and life are deeply related; faith isn't just a Sunday ritual but a transformative force that influences everyday choices, actions, relationships, and inner strength, while life provides the context to express and grow that faith, showing it's a lived experience of trust and action, not just belief. Genuine faith is demonstrated through how one lives, works, and interacts making them inseparable partners. However, the loss of a loved one can erroneously test that faith, sometimes to the extreme. It can effectively shatter or strengthen.

The story of Job, from the Hebrew Bible, features a righteous, wealthy man tested by God and Satan; after losing his children, wealth, and health to painful sores, Job still refuses to curse God, debating his suffering with friends who believe he must have sinned. God appears, rebukes them, and restores Job's fortunes, teaching a lesson about faith beyond worldly blessings and the mystery of suffering. Job is a pious, prosperous man. God praises him, but Satan (the Adversary) claims Job is only faithful because of his blessings. God allows Satan to strip Job of everything - livestock, servants, children, and finally his health (boils) - but not his life, to test his faith. Despite immense suffering, Job refuses to curse God, though he mourns deeply and questions why this is happening. God appears in a whirlwind, not to explain the suffering but to show His power and Job's limited understanding, rebuking the friends and Job for their limited views. Eventually, Job humbles himself, and God restores his health, wealth, and family, giving him double what he had before, with new children and a long life. The story explores why the righteous suffer, challenging the simple idea that suffering always equals sin, and ultimately affirming faith in God's mysterious ways.