So if you’re going through a storm in your life right now, or even if you’re unknowingly about to enter into a storm… this episode will help you to prepare.

I thought today would be a good day to discuss our faith and values for preparing for storms. 

When you think about it… the transition from summer to fall is more dramatic than fall to winter, than winter to spring, and even from spring to summer. 

Unfortunately, this time of the year is also known for unstable weather patterns. Names like Isabel, Sandy, Katrina, and Irene are reminders of the devastation of major storms that happen during this time of the year. 

And this is the time of the year where We are bombarded with information on how important it is to prepare for the possibility of storms. We can be certain that there will be a storm, but the severity, the timing, the location and the duration, no one really knows.

Experiencing these storms is also a reminder that life has its storms. health storms, when you are faced with a diagnosis that catches you off guard; financial storms caused by unstable economic conditions; emotional storms that happen as the result of the loss of a loved one. …Those relational storms that occur when we have to care for an ailing relative or become a parent to our own parents as they deal with the challenges of aging. 

Yes, life has its storms, and just like the meteorological storms we face, we can’t predict them. But, we can prepare for them.

Psalm 46:1 says these words, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The message Bible says it like this, “God is a safe place to hide.” Why is this important to know? 

Because, Your devotion to God helps to reduce the effects of the distractions that the storms of life may try to bring your way. The promise in the verse is not that we won’t experience troubles and trials in life — the storm will come. 

But the promise is that God will be a refuge, a safe place to protect us from the effects of the storm. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God." 

Jesus consistently demonstrated His authority by doing things which were totally beyond human capacity. In this case, while the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat, Jesus fell asleep on a cushion. A great storm arose, and the disciples panicked. 

In desperation, they awoke Jesus saying: "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He got up and calmly rebuked the wind and the sea. The storm ceased. He then turned to the disciples and reproved them for their lack of faith. Though they had seen Jesus perform many miracles, they were always amazed by each new one. They said: "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" 

Note -- Let me ask you, How well do you sleep? Considering the things that the disciples had already seen Jesus do, their doubts about His ability to quiet the storm are astonishing. They had seen Him heal multitudes of people, cast out demons and prove Himself equal to any task at hand. Suddenly, they despaired because of a storm on the sea. Obviously, they didn't really think Jesus could solve this problem because they were amazed when He did. How could they have been so slow and so distrustful? What about us? Do we not believe that Jesus can handle any situation, if we trust and obey His will? Have we not seen in the Scriptures how Jesus can solve every problem? How do we react when we confront a fresh crisis in our lives--do we trustingly and confidently turn to Jesus, or do we throw up our hands in despair? How well do we sleep?

Today, we are going to learn about how Jesus frequently taught in parables. 

A parable is a story with a spiritual application.