Calling on His Strength: How to Rise in Faith When Life Gets Stormy

When storms hit our lives, it's natural to feel overwhelmed and powerless. But what if the very strength we need to overcome these challenges is already within us? The story of Jesus calming the storm in Luke 8:22-25 reveals powerful truths about accessing God's strength in our most difficult moments.

What Does It Mean to Have the Kingdom Within Us?

We Carry Sacred Responsibility

Jesus told His disciples, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." These weren't just travel plans - they were words of faith that carried divine authority. Similarly, we carry the kingdom of God within us, along with a sacred responsibility to this world.

Luke 17:21 reminds us that "the kingdom of God is within you." This means we don't have to wait for external circumstances to change before we can experience God's power. The disciples were on a boat with Jesus Himself, yet they panicked when the storm came. How often do we do the same thing - forgetting that Christ lives within us?

Every Believer Has Been Given Faith

Romans 12:3 tells us that God "has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Notice it doesn't say some believers get faith while others don't. Every child of God has been given the same measure of faith. The difference isn't in how much faith we have, but in how we respond to and use that faith.

The disciples had enough of Jesus' word to step out on. He had already declared they would reach the other side. They had His promise, but they focused on the storm instead of His word.

What Happens When Faith Doesn't Rise?

Certain outcomes can be forfeited when faith doesn't rise to meet the storms we face. The disciples went and woke Jesus up, which showed they at least knew where to turn in crisis. But Jesus asked them, "Where is your faith?"

Peace in our lives may not come until we begin speaking to our storms rather than just enduring them. God wants us to mature beyond begging and pleading to standing in the authority He's given us as His children.

How Does God Reveal Himself to Us?

Through His Written Word (Logos)

Acts 13:2 shows us that "as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said..." Revelation often comes when we prioritize time with God. The written Word of God - the Logos - is one of the absolutes we must prioritize in our lives.

As 1 Peter 2:2 says, "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow." Much of our growth or lack of growth depends on how much of God's Word we intake. This Word becomes our sword, giving us fighting words to battle strongholds and change wrong thought patterns.

Many times our problems persist because our priorities are poor. The Word of God must be a daily priority, not an occasional supplement.

The Word Carries Faith

The Word of God is a carrier of faith and highlights what God has written within us. When we hide God's Word in our hearts, we can draw it out in times of need. As the Bible says, "a man of wisdom will draw out" revelation.

Through Personal Relationship and Prayer

2 Peter 1:3 tells us that "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him." Notice it says "through the knowledge of Him" - not just knowledge about Him, but intimate knowledge of who He is.

When Jesus taught about prayer, He said, "when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Private Prayer Shows Up in Public Life

God desires to reward by faith in public those who have sat with Him in private. The God we meet in private prayer can show up in our public square, in our everyday life. This is His passion - to show up and reward those who diligently seek Him.

Through Specific Words (Rhema)

Beyond the written Word, God can give specifics and often does from within as He speaks to His children. Ephesians 3:16 speaks of being "strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man." Some of that strengthening comes through His revelation - His Word spoken to you in due season.

Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice." God wants to speak to us through words He gives us, visions He shows us, and purposes He reveals to us. This becomes ammunition for our faith declarations.

How Do We Rise in Faith and Authority?

Speak to Your Mountains

Matthew 17:20 records Jesus saying, "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Notice Jesus didn't say "if God will say" to the mountain. He said "you will say." God is calling us to step out in faith and speak to the situations in our lives that need to change.

Maybe our problems are persisting because we're not following spiritual principles. Instead of waiting for something to happen by chance, God is calling us to step out in faith and declare His Word over our circumstances.

God Is Waiting for Us to Act

Many times God is waiting for us to do something about what He has spoken or written. The enemy wants to keep us quiet, focused on the storm like the disciples were. But Jesus is teaching us to turn our focus to His Word, to what He has already said.

When Jesus said "Let us go to the other side," that wasn't just a travel plan - it was a promise. They weren't going to sink because Jesus had already declared their destination.

Prepare by Writing Down God's Promises

A good practice is to write down promises from God's Word in first person singular. When you see a promise in Scripture that applies to your situation, write it down as a personal declaration.

For example, instead of reading "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly," write "I declare in the name of Jesus that I don't walk in the counsel of the ungodly. My delight is in the Word of God, and I am blessed like a tree planted by rivers of water."

Preparation Protects Against Deception

Preparation is important because Satan can use our senses and flesh to deceive us. That's exactly what happened on the boat - the disciples focused on what they could see instead of what Jesus had said.

Speak Life and Expect Results

Proverbs 13:2 says "A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth." Jesus demonstrated this when He said "Peace, be still" to the storm. There may be chaos, anxiety, or trauma in your life, but God says "Peace, be still."

Some things may not be removed from our lives until we say "Peace, be still" and do something with our lips. We need to change what we speak and agree with.

Don't Give Up Too Soon

When we declare God's Word over a situation and don't see immediate results, we can't quit. While we're speaking faith day after day, something is happening in the spirit realm. The mountain we see with our natural eyes may be crumbling in the spiritual realm, but if we quit too soon, we might miss the breakthrough that was coming on day five.

Life Application

This week, choose one area of your life where you need to call on God's strength instead of relying on your own. Write down three specific promises from God's Word that apply to your situation, and rewrite them in first person as declarations. Spend time each day speaking these declarations over your circumstances, remembering that you carry the kingdom of God within you.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I focusing more on the storms in my life or on God's promises?

• What would change if I truly believed that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within me?

• How can I move from begging God to change my circumstances to standing in the authority He's already given me?

• What "mountains" in my life need to hear me speak God's Word over them?

Remember, God has already given you everything you need for life and godliness. The question isn't whether you have enough faith - you do. The question is whether you'll rise up and use the authority and strength He's placed within you.