When Faith Finds You in the Storm

A Devotion on Enduring Faith by Lenya Heitzig

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James 1:2–4 (NIV)

It was one of those afternoons.

The traffic was gridlocked, the clock was relentless, and my carefully planned day was unraveling in a mess of honking horns and flashing brake lights. I tapped the steering wheel and whispered the familiar prayer: "Lord, please...not today."

That's when I noticed a runner on the sidewalk. The rain had started, the wind had picked up, but she kept going. Step after step, soaked but steady. She didn't glance at the storm. She didn't slow down to complain. She pressed forward, one determined stride at a time. Something about that quiet perseverance caught my heart. I felt God's nudge, gentle but clear: "This is what faith looks like."

The runner couldn't control the storm, but she could choose to keep moving through it. And faith, real faith isn't about waiting for ideal conditions. It's about trusting the One who carries you forward when everything else tries to hold you back.

A Word for You, Friend

You might be standing in your own storm right now. Your plans may have been delayed, prayers unanswered, hope feeling thin. Some storms don't mean God is absent. In fact, they often reveal the deep roots of our faith. 

God isn't asking you to run faster or pretend it's sunny. He's inviting you to trust Him as you keep going. Perseverance isn't loud or flashy. Perseverance is a quiet, faithful movement you make when quitting feels easier.

Right here, in the waiting and the weary, He's forming something in you: a faith that won't crumble when the clouds roll in.

Let's Pray

"Lord, I'm tired of the storm. But today, I choose trust over retreat. Teach me to keep walking even when the road is wet and the wind is strong. Grow my perseverance and anchor me in Your promises. Amen."

Practical Takeaway

This week, strengthen your faith with simple steps:

• When the storm comes, pause. Whisper a prayer instead of giving in to panic.
• Write one reminder of God's faithfulness in a past trial.
• Encourage someone who's walking through their own storm

You don't need to control the weather. You just need to trust the One who walks with you through it.

Book Reference:

Heitzig, Lenya & Rose, Penny.
Live Faithfully: A Study in the Book of James
(David C Cook, 2012) — Examine the quality of faith in the lives of believers in terms of attitudes and actions. James encourages believers that our walk and our talk should match. Many times, Christians sit under great teaching each week but what they learn about how to live practically as Christians doesn't always translate into their behavior. Live Faithfully: A Study in the Book of James is a highly interactive and intensely personal journey through the book of James.