What is the meaning of Isaiah 4:6? And what do we do when we’re facing the storms of life? In this devotional, we’ll uncover the message of this popular scripture and find out how to weather life’s storms with God’s help.
Let’s read this Bible verse about the storms of life together…
It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Life is Full of Storms
Every spring I wait with great anticipation for my irises to bloom. I look forward to seeing them sprout up, as they emerge from their winter slumber.
They belonged to my Granny, who I loved and admired so much. And they remind me of how her laughter could fill the room or how her homemade chicken and dumplings were the best around.
My heart is full of these memories. And I always feel like celebrating when that first iris opens!
But this year was a little different, the irises decided to appear on a cloudy, stormy day. The sky was gray and the wind was whipping around. Later, I found out a nearby town was hit by a devastating tornado.
The trees were uprooted, and homes were destroyed. It was a mess!
It’s not surprising to have tornadoes here in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Because we have a lot of them, but this one was unexpected.
Life is like that too, you just never know when a storm will be brewing.
In fact, if you’re not currently in the middle of one of the storms of life, you can bet one is just over the horizon and headed your way.
That’s because life is full of storms. But with a little resilience and a whole lot of faith, we can face the storms of life and come out the other side stronger.
So, today I’d like to talk about how to weather life’s storms.
The Purpose of Spiritual Storms of Life
There are three kinds of iris in my flower bed. Most of them are yellow with large blooms. Then there are the tiny blossoms of the small purple irises. But my favorites are the huge white ones.
I only have a few of them, but with their giant flowers, they’re showstoppers! What makes them so unique is that they have a special kind of beauty, one you have to look hard to see.
From afar, they’re completely white, but if you look closer you can see a faint hint of lavender peeking out from the center.
Finding the beauty in life’s storms can be just as difficult. You have to look closely to see it.
But the beauty is not in the struggle, it’s in the fact that there is a spiritual purpose in the storms of life.
God has something He wants to teach us, and He has put us in the eye of the storm for a reason.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Sometimes it’s hard to understand how God could cause all things, good and bad to work out in our favor. But because we have been called according to God’s purpose, He promises that they will.
Even if we can’t see it now, we can have confidence in God’s ability to use the storm clouds overhead to bring about good in our lives.
So, I encourage you to look closely at the storm you’re facing and discover what God’s purpose is.
Lessons We Learn from Life’s Storms
No one enjoys the storms of life, but they do serve an important purpose. In the broader sense, they refine our faith, shape our character, and bring us closer to God.
James 1:2-4 tells us to “consider it pure joy when we face trials because they produce perseverance.” It may not feel joyful in the moment, but the Holy Spirit uses these seasons to do a good work in us.
Here are three lessons we can take away from life’s storms:
- Storms remind us to seek the presence of the Lord – When everything is calm, it’s easy to rely on ourselves. But when life shakes us up, we remember that our true place of refuge is in Him.
- Storms teach us to trust God’s promises – Isaiah 4 shows us that no matter what’s going on in our lives or the world around us, God provides a place of shelter for those who trust Him. His Word never fails!
- Storms prepare us to grow in faith—Just as Jesus calmed the storm before His disciples, He uses our trials to strengthen our witness. When we trust Him through the hard times, we reflect the glory of God to those around us, leading to the success of the gospel.
No storm is wasted in the hands of our mighty God!
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God is our Hiding Place and Shelter from the Storm
Every year there’s at least one tornado that destroys a neighboring city. In the aftermath of the storm, the only thing in a house left standing is usually the bathtub.
That’s why we have storm shelters in this part of the country.
If you don’t live in the Midwest, you may not be familiar with storm shelters. They’re big metal boxes buried underground with a door that slides shut. They protect us from tornadoes and give us a place to hide from the storm.
In addition to these shelters, we also have tornado sirens. They’re loud, really loud! When the wind picks up and they go off, that’s our cue to run to the storm shelter and hunker down until the storm passes by.
Isaiah 4:6 makes it clear, during life’s storms, God is our hiding place and shelter from the storm. He is our refuge in difficult times. And He’s the One we run to for protection when life becomes too much.
David knew this very well when he needed a hiding place from Saul. Here’s what he and wrote in the middle of his own thunderstorm of life…
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in Thee: And in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge, Until the destruction passes by.
This inspirational Old Testament prayer of praise is an example of how we should weather any storm that blows through our lives.
What a comfort it is to know God, the Creator of the universe is ready to take us under His wings, give us a hiding place, and cover us with His grace.
As the storm rages on around you, run to Him and take refuge under His wings until the destruction passes by.
How to Stand Firm in Faith When the Storm Rages
So, how do we stand strong when the winds howl and the rain pours? The answer is found in the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-11 tells us to “be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God.” This is the power of God at work in us! Here are three ways to stay anchored in faith:
- Run to your safe place – Just like a storm shelter protects us from the wind, rain, and the heat of the sun, God is our refuge. Spending time in prayer and divine worship keeps us covered with His peace and love.
- Hold tight to Scripture – The Hebrew word for “refuge” in the books of the minor prophets speaks of a secure hiding place. When the storm rages, stand on the promises of the Bible and let them be your place of safety.
- Surround yourself with the Body of Christ – The Christian church is here to lift you up. Being part of a strong faith community will give you the support and encouragement you need to weather the storms .
No matter how fierce the storm is, one thing remains true… God is with you. His glorious presence surrounds you, His hand upholds you, and His love never fails.
Jesus Calms the Storm
When one of life’s storms hits us, it may feel like we are being tossed around by the wind and rain with no end in sight.
Peter must have felt this way too during the storm on the Sea of Galilee.
And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
I’m sure we all know this story well, but sometimes it’s nice to be reminded to keep looking to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter started out with his eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and his heart was in the right place. But then he stepped out onto the water and became scared and distracted by the storm raging around him.
The moment he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink and drown. So, he cried out for Jesus to save him.
God’s Word says immediately Jesus reached out His hand to help Peter. There was no waiting or begging, just immediate assistance from the Savior.
Just like Peter, we start out with our hearts in the right place and our eyes on Jesus.
Suddenly, we’re distracted by the hurricane-force winds of life. We began to sink under the crashing waves surrounding us. And we cry out for Jesus to save us before we drown.
So, He gives us the same immediate help He gave to Peter, and we turn our gaze to Him again.
Until the next storm hits. And we start the process all over again.
But no matter how many times we wind up in the eye of a storm, Jesus is always there with us in the middle of it all. And He is always willing to reach out His hand and pull us out of the deep water.
Thank you, Jesus!
God’s Hand in the Storm
When a storm rolls in, everything can feel so uncertain. The sky darkens, the wind howls, and the intense heat of fear sets in. But the presence of God is never far away.
Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” That’s the hedge of protection only God can provide!
The book of Isaiah gives us good evidence that God’s hand is always at work. Just like Jesus reached out to save Peter from sinking, God extends His hand to pull us up when we feel overwhelmed. His hand is our place of safety and a symbol of the divine protection He gives to His children.
Maybe you’re in a storm right now, and wondering if He sees the cyclone swirling around you. But take heart! God’s hand is never too far to reach you. Even in your present state of struggle, He’s moving behind the scenes, holding you steady, and guiding you toward the great blessing He has in store for you.
The Storm is Not the End of the Story
Storms come and go, leaving their mark, but sooner or later, the skies clear, and light breaks through once again.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah had a vision of the New Jerusalem, a time when God’s glorious presence would bring peace and restoration. The storms of this world are temporary, but the new heaven and new earth God has promised are eternal!
God’s people have always faced trials, but through it all, He has been faithful. He reminds us in Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” That’s His promise to us!
Maybe you’ve been in the storm for a long time and it feels like the rain will never end. But trust in God’s protection, He has a plan far beyond what you can see. The storm is just one chapter, not the whole book. And the ending? It’s written by a faithful, loving Father who will never leave you!
Trusting God in the Storm
Luckily for us, storms don’t last forever. They blow in suddenly, shake things up, and then, after a bit of time, they pass.
My irises may have been a little beaten down when the storm was over, but their beauty remained. And life’s storms may spin us around like a tornado, but when they pass, we’ll be like those irises… still standing, still blooming, and still held in God’s presence.
Jesus promised us that in this world, we’ll have tribulation. There’s no doubt that storms will come our way, but we don’t have to face them alone. In this Isaiah 4:6 Devotional, we’ve seen that God is our shelter, our refuge, and our hiding place. He is always near, offering His protection and peace through every storm.
So if you’re in the middle of a storm right now, don’t lose heart. Keep your eyes on Jesus! His presence is with you, His hand is holding you, and His love will carry you through. Because that’s how to weather life’s storms the Biblical way!
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I’ve begun to ask Him to speak to the storms that come against, Peace Be Still. I live in Ga. it is already hot, Those storms pop up at moment’s notice like spiritual ones can, so we need Him speaking to them.
Hi Rebecca! Yes, those spiritual storms pop up without warning. I love this thought you’ve offered, Peace Be Still. Praying this over you now.
I enjoyed your post. Thank you for the reminder of keeping our eyes on the Lord in times of storms as well as in smooth sailing weather. I discovered you by being a neighbor on Coffee For Your Heart linkup.
Hi Kathleen! I like how you put it, keeping our eyes on the Lord in smooth sailing weather. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today. Blessings!
What a great reminder that God is with us always and will go with us through every storm. He is faithful and we can trust Him to do what is best. It’s so important to keep our eyes on Him as we go through life’s difficulties and also when things are going well. Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #CoffeeforYourHeart.
Hi Gayl! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. God is faithful! Many blessings!