I hate driving in the pouring rain! The only thing worse is being passed by semi-trucks as rain pelts down. When I see a storm approaching while traveling, I pull up the weather map to check when it might hit or, hopefully, pass. This way, I can anticipate a break or at least gauge the storm’s severity—whether it’s a potential threat, a watch, or a warning. Some of you might even have a weather radio to alert you when a storm is coming.

But in the storms of life, we have no such map or warning system. We can’t know if we’re nearing the end of the storm or if it’s about to get worse. All we can do is hold on, hoping it will pass soon. We know storms won’t last forever, yet that can be hard to believe when we’re in the middle of one. And while life doesn’t offer a warning system, I believe we can be on alert for the three kinds of storms that we all face.

1. Sovereign Storms

Job faced a storm he didn’t ask for, and by all accounts, he didn’t deserve it. Yet God sent it anyway. These kinds of storms may not make sense to us, and we may never understand them fully. God sends them for our good and His glory.

When I was lying in a hospital bed, being told I could die at any moment, I wondered why I was facing such a storm. No one wants to hear those words—especially not at age 39 with four kids between 7 and 12. As I wrestled for life and cried out to God, everything seemed to go quiet. God brought to my mind another storm, the one the disciples faced. In that moment, I heard a still, small voice say, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” It reminded me that God was present in the storm, whether I lived or not. If I survived, He would be with me; if not, He would be with my family. It was then I felt a peace like never before. God made it clear that He is Lord of both the storm and the aftermath.

2. Specific Storms

Looking back over the past twenty years, the United States has experienced significant storms like Hurricane Katrina, with the recent Hurricane Helene among the most powerful in memory. These storms brought unimaginable damage and forever changed lives.

I don’t believe God sends storms to punish particular people or nations. But I do believe He sometimes sends life-changing storms to prompt people to look up. The Philippian jailer faced such a storm—his came as an earthquake. In an instant, he thought his life was over. Multiple prisoners had escaped on his watch, and his superiors would not forgive that. While it might not have meant his death, he knew he’d lose everything else, and he prepared to end his life. But God, in His mercy, allowed this storm to bring him to the point of asking, “What must I do to be saved?”

In the Old Testament, God sent a seven-year storm into King Nebuchadnezzar’s life. He foretold it, saying, “They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.” (Daniel 4:25). After seven years, Nebuchadnezzar finally understood, declaring, “I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34).

3.  Secondary Storms

These storms are often the most devastating. They’re the ones that force us to endure hardship due to someone else’s actions. For example, consider the Egyptians during the plagues or the mariners who unknowingly gave Jonah a ride. They weren’t directly responsible, yet they suffered the consequences.

The storms of life are inevitable, but understanding them can help us face them with greater resilience and faith. Whether we encounter Sovereign Storms allowed by God, Specific Storms meant to turn our eyes toward Him, or Shared Storms brought on by others’ actions, each has a purpose. These storms remind us that God is not only present during the tempest but also in its aftermath, shaping us and drawing us closer to Him. So when the winds pick up and the skies darken, remember: God is with you in every storm, giving strength and peace to endure and overcome.