When was the last time you faced one of life’s storms? Maybe you’re in the midst of one now. I have to admit, at times it feels like one tsunami after another has hit our family over the last few years. On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective Podcast, I interviewed Cynthia Cavanaugh about staying anchored during the storms of life. If you missed that episode, click here (Will Your Anchor Hold in the Storms of Life? – Episode 103). Cynthia authored the book Anchored: Leading Through the Storms. As I’ve spent some time pondering some of the recent storms of life, I’ve learned a few lessons, including the fact that we are meant to go through the storms of life—not camp out there.

Read to the end for a book giveaway!

With the recent upheaval of the world, there’s so much we don’t know. So much misinformation. So many rumors. And for many, so many fears. I have missed worshipping in person, together. I’ve had concerns for students, families, and businesses. In so many ways, I’ve wanted to turn back the hands of time. But instead, He beckons that His way is through.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT).

Go Through Grief

The year 2019 was particularly painful. We lost 19 friends and family to death, mostly from cancer. No sooner would I find out about someone’s new diagnosis, and then I’d hear of the death of someone else I loved, cared for, and had been pouring out my prayers on their behalf. I believed (and still believe) God can and does heal, and yet my heart ached for the earthly losses of each friend and family member who wasn’t healed on this earth, but now lived healed and whole with Him. Grief set in, and each new death seemed to compound the grief I already felt. I found comfort in the Scriptures that reminded me that “Jesus wept.” So I knew He didn’t condemn my grief, but instead allowed it. Yet I also knew He didn’t want me to stay in a permanent state of grief, but rather to journey through it with Him.

His way is through.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you…

Go Through Cancer

My husband has been diagnosed with three different types of cancer, and I’ve received a cancer diagnosis twice. Each time it has been a journey, reaching for the hem of his garment, waiting on His will and His way. He never intended for cancer to be a way of life, but He has allowed us to go through it, trusting Him to see us through it. There were so many times during each diagnosis and subsequent treatment when I thought for certain one or both of us might drown in the rivers of difficulty, and yet I knew He was in the rivers with us.

His way is through.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown…

Go Through Miscarriage

“I’m so sorry. I can’t find a heartbeat. We’ve lost the pregnancy.” I sat stunned, as the doctor delivered the words that I could not have been more shocked to hear. I had just felt the baby kick the day before. And I had been giddy with excitement over nursery plans and picking out baby names. This baby was a gift from God, until it wasn’t. “How could this happen?” I wondered. I was healthy, and I had “done everything right.” Grief was real, and God was allowing me to feel it. Even though He didn’t intend for me to stay there, it was something I needed to go through.

His way is through.

When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you…

Go Through Depression

Having treated thousands of patients in my career, no one was more surprised when I journeyed through my own valley of depression into the dark night of my soul (If you’re not familiar with my story, and the hope that is offered, you can find my book, “Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression” that chronicles both my experience and the hope that I found, here. I’ll never forget crying out to God, and honestly sharing that if that was going to be my lot in life, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue living. Fortunately for me, He was patient and gentle as He revealed that that was not His intention. Instead, He wanted to bring me through depression so I could share hope to others who suffered.

His way is through.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Go Through Job Loss

I’ll never forget the day my husband walked through the door in the middle of the day, finding me at the desk. “I’ve been let go as part of the company-wide reduction in force.” Wait…what? You lost your job? We had young children, a mortgage to pay, school loans to repay. We didn’t know what God’s plan was, but we trusted that this turn of events didn’t take Him by surprise, and He knew how He would see us through it. We weren’t going to stay unemployed. But it was a season we had to travel through until we were on the other side, just like the disciples in the storm on the lake with Jesus.

His way is through.

Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:22-25)

As our family has journeyed through many of life’s storms, I’ve learned a few things:

1. We are meant to go through the storms of life—not camp out there permanently. His way is through. (Isaiah 43:2-3a)
2. When Jesus told the disciples “let us go over to the other side of the lake,” He knew they would get there, but they forgot that promise when the storms arose. (Luke 8:22-25) We have to hold onto God’s hand and His promises when the storms of life arise.
3. Even when we have to go through the storms of life, God never leaves us to go through them alone. “I will never leave you or abandon you” (Isaiah 43:2).
4. Storms may bring pain, doubt, or discouragement, yet He offers to be our comforter through the storms. (Psalm 23:4).
5. Regardless of what the storm is, we don’t have to have all the answers, we just have to turn to the One who does. “For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13).

What storms has He taken you through? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

Book Giveaway!

In conjunction with the podcast interview Will Your Anchor Hold in the Storms of Life? – Episode 103, Cynthia Cavanaugh is giving away a free copy of her book, Anchored: Leading Through the Storms

Leave a comment below sharing with us one thing you learned about weathering storms and you will be entered into the contest.

You could also share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, April 12, 2021, here on this post. Continental United States only.