Don’T Tell God How Big Your Storm Is
Life can throw unexpected challenges and hardships our way. When faced with difficult times, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder why we have to endure such struggles. But there is hope and perspective to be found in the midst of the storm.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Rather than complaining to God about our problems, we should trust that He is in control and rely on Him for the strength to make it through our trials.
Focusing on God’s power and love can give us peace and courage when life gets tough.
In this article, we’ll explore the deeper meaning behind the phrase ‘Don’t tell God how big your storm is.’ We’ll discuss how to avoid complaining to God during hard times, why we should trust in His strength rather than our own, how to gain an eternal perspective on our problems, and more.
Avoid Complaining to God
Venting prevents us from seeking God’s will
When we encounter difficulties in life, it’s easy to vent our frustrations to God and complain about our circumstances. However, constant complaining can prevent us from moving forward and seeking God’s will.
God wants us to bring our real concerns to Him, but when our prayers turn into nonstop complaining sessions, we get stuck in a victim mentality.
Rather than complaining, we need to ask God to reveal His purpose for our lives. The storms we face have the potential to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to God. But we have to stop the negative self-talk and lamenting, and instead ask God, “How can this situation help me grow?”
With an attitude of humility and openness to learning, we’ll be able to see life’s difficulties through God’s eyes.
Complaining shows a lack of faith and gratitude
Complaining excessively to God can be a sign that our faith is weak and faltering. When we really trust that God is in control and will work all things for good in our lives, we should respond to trials with gratitude instead of constant complaining.
Even when we don’t understand God’s purpose, we can thank Him that He is still on the throne.
The next time we’re tempted to bombard heaven with complaints about problems at work, illness, financial struggles, relationship issues, or other unpleasant circumstances, we need to stop and consider God’s goodness. He has poured out His mercy and grace on our lives every single day.
When we complain constantly, we’re acting as if we deserve a smooth, comfortable life free of suffering. The truth is that we are blessed beyond measure even in the midst of pain.
God wants us to bring our real concerns to Him
God isn’t telling us we can never share struggles with Him in prayer. He invites us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). It’s definitely okay to tell God exactly how we’re feeling – He can handle our raw emotions.
We simply need to avoid making complaints the main focus of our prayers.
Pouring out our hearts to God should be about connecting with Him, not simply venting feelings and frustration. We need to balance our prayers so they also include praise, thanksgiving, and requesting God’s help to align our will with His purposes.
God also wants us to get to the root of what’s really bothering us. Often, complaining is covering up deeper hurts, fears, and unmet needs we haven’t surrendered to Him.
The Lord cares deeply about our personal storms. But instead of judging the size of our struggles and giving a play-by-play account to God, let’s talk to Him about how we can grow in faith through life’s troubles. Our complaints might shock us, but God is never surprised by what we’re facing.
He stands ready to hear our real concerns and lead us to hope, healing, and blessings that can emerge from life’s fiercest storms.
Trust in God’s Strength
We often rely too much on our own power
It’s easy to try to tackle life’s storms by ourselves. We think we need to be strong and self-sufficient. But the truth is, our strength is limited compared to the challenges life throws at us. As the saying goes, we often “tell God how big our storms are” instead of trusting in His infinite power.
According to a Pew Research study, 89% of Americans say they believe in God, but only 56% say they believe in God as described in the Bible. This suggests many rely more on their own power than truly trusting in God’s strength.
God’s strength is infinite compared to ours
Unlike us, God has unlimited power and strength. As Isaiah 40:28 says, “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary.” When we try to deal with difficulties on our own, we eventually get weary and overwhelmed.
But God never grows tired or overwhelmed. His power goes beyond anything we can imagine. According to a Gallup poll, 89% of Americans say God is all-powerful and can do anything. When storms come, instead of relying only on ourselves, we need to tap into God’s infinite strength.
Faith in God can give us courage and resilience
Trusting in God’s strength allows us to have more courage to face life’s difficulties. A 2022 Barna study showed 61% of Christians say their faith gives them meaning and purpose. And 48% say it helps them be resilient.
Clinging to God during hard times can give us the perseverance to keep going when we feel like giving up. As 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” God promises to walk with us through every storm.
His strength shines brightest through our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Instead of relying only on ourselves, trusting in God’s strength allows us to have courage, meaning and resilience to weather life’s storms.
Gain an Eternal Perspective
Our problems are small from an eternal viewpoint
When we focus too much on our current troubles, it’s easy to lose perspective. Yet compared to eternity with God, our problems here are fleeting – a mere vapor that passes away (James 4:14). As Paul wrote, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
One day we’ll stand before our Creator to give an account for our lives. Any earthly rewards or suffering will seem trivial next to gaining His loving approval. As C.S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.”
So let’s focus on storing up eternal treasures rather than earthly ones (Matthew 6:19-20).
This life is short compared to eternity with God
Our time here on earth is fleeting even compared to life expectancies just a century ago. I don’t know about you, but those birthdays seem to come faster each year! Yet regardless, our earthly lives are a mere breath compared to the promise of eternal life with God (Psalm 90:10).
During our short stay here, God wants us to walk in fellowship with Him, learning His truth. Then we can encourage others and share the Gospel of grace as we eagerly anticipate Christ’s return and our heavenly rewards (Mark 13:32-37).
Let’s live passionately for Him now, not coasting along in mediocrity or despair over temporary troubles.
Hardships help us grow in character and faith
Though painful, our trials have divine purpose when yielded to God. As James said, they produce perseverance and maturity, making us “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). If we remain steadfast in faith through fiery ordeals, we’ll receive the “crown of life” Christ promises to those who love Him (James 1:12).
Hardships also draw us closer to God, increasing our trust in Him. David discovered this firsthand, declaring “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word” (Psalm 119:67). So don’t despair; let God use those storms, great or small, to strengthen your roots of faith.
Focus on God’s Sovereignty and Love
God is in complete control even when we can’t see it
Life can feel out of control when we’re facing trials and storms. It’s easy to feel alone and wonder if God has forgotten about us. But the truth is, God is sovereign, meaning He is in complete control over everything that happens in our lives and in this world.
As Isaiah 46:10 says, God declares “the end from the beginning.” He is orchestrating all things according to His divine plan and purposes.
Even when chaos swirls around us, God remains steady on His throne. He is never caught off guard or surprised by anything we face. Psalm 115:3 declares “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”
While we may not understand God’s ways, we can trust in His wisdom and take comfort that nothing happens outside of His sovereign will and control. No storm is too big for God!
He loves us and wants to help us through trials
Not only is God completely in control, but He also deeply loves us and cares about what we’re going through. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 to “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” He understands our pain and wants to help us. We don’t have to face trials alone.
God doesn’t always take away the storms of life, but He promises to be with us through them. Deuteronomy 31:8 declares “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
We can come boldly to God’s throne and receive mercy and grace to help us endure hardships (Hebrews 4:16). He will give us strength, hope and comfort if we trust in Him.
Trust that God will work all things for good in the end
It’s hard to see the good in trials when we’re engulfed in the storm. But Romans 8:28 gives us incredible hope: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
While we can’t always understand how, God promises to use everything we face for our ultimate good and His glory.
Trials have a purpose – they strengthen our faith, refine our character, and draw us closer to Jesus. As we keep our eyes fixed on Christ through the storms, He will redeem our pain and use it for something beautiful. Though weeping may last for the night, joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
Let’s trust God’s perfect timing and plan. The day is coming when every storm will cease and His purposes will be made known.
Pray and Give Thanks in the Storm
Bring your real concerns to God honestly in prayer
When we’re going through difficult times, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed or afraid. God invites us to bring Him all our burdens in prayer (1 Peter 5:7). We can be real with God about our struggles, fears, anger, and sadness. Pour out your heart to Him, and know that He cares (Psalm 62:8).
There’s no need to pretend with God or gloss over how we really feel.
At the same time, balance raw honesty with faith. After sharing your deepest emotions, proclaim truth such as “But I know You are good, God” or “I trust You are working all things for my good, even when I can’t see it” (Romans 8:28).
Let prayer be a means of releasing the weight of your storms to God rather than just rehearsing how heavy the storms feel.
Balance requests with thanksgiving for what you do have
It’s easy when difficulties come to obsess over what we lack – a job, money, health, a relationship, purpose. But dwelling on what we don’t have breeds discontentment and blindness to God’s blessings.
Philippians 4:6 says to pray about everything, with thanksgiving. Make thanking God for what you do have an integral part of prayer. Thank Him for His presence, His Word, memories of past grace, relationships, provision of needs so far. Gratitude shifts our focus to God’s faithfulness and care.
Let prayer re-center your mind on God’s presence and care
The storms of life can overwhelm our perspective, making us feel abandoned or our problems too big for God. But prayer has power to re-center our minds on truth. As we talk to God, we remember that He is near, He cares, He is for us, and nothing is impossible for Him (Psalm 145:18, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:31, Luke 1:37).
Even if the storm does not subside yet, prayer can give us strength to persevere one day at a time with renewed faith. It lifts our gaze to the One who walks with us through storms. With an eternal perspective, we know storms don’t have the final say. God’s purposes and His promises stand forever.
Conclusion
Going through hard times can be incredibly difficult. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the size and scope of the storms we face in life. But rather than complaining to God about our struggles, we need to shift our focus.
Relying on God’s infinite strength and love, trusting in His sovereignty over our circumstances, gaining an eternal perspective, and bringing our requests to Him with thanksgiving in prayer can profoundly change how we weather life’s storms.
With God as our shelter, we can find hope and courage to endure anything.
