You can pass each faith test. Stay calm, keep your eyes on Jesus, and trust Him to bring you through. Learn to endure the storms of life!

Faith Tests Teach You: Endure the Storms of Life

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: James 1:3-4. Bible lesson background James 1:2-8: This letter, from James, is addressed to all believers. Advising that we should be happy for faith tests. They help us learn how to endure the storms of life and become spiritually mature. Because faith is the foundation of our spiritual life. So be wise and embrace your faith tests.

My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. So, know that you can endure the storms of life.

James 1:3-4 [read James 1:2-8 (3-4)]

You know you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. (CEV)

KJV: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Endure the storms of life

Proverbs 10:25 [read Proverbs 10:23-25 (25)]

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. (NLT)

KJV: As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Jesus slept during the storm

Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Lake (Sea) of Galilee when a common, fierce storm caused the boat to start filling.

Mark 4:38-40 [read Mark 4:35-41 (38-40); compare Matthew 8:23-27 (24-26); Luke 8:22-25 (23-25)]

But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” 39 He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. 40 Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet? (CEB)

KJV: And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Jesus was calm during the storm, “asleep on a pillow.” Child of God, are you calm during your stormy faith test like Jesus or afraid like the disciples?

Speak to the storm

Consider this: Jesus spoke to the conditions causing the storm. The wind and the water they obeyed (Matthew and Luke use the word ‘rebuked’ meaning to give a strong command; reprimand). After all, the disciples saw Jesus cast out demons and heal the sick, but now “even the wind and the sea obey him.” To see natural forces obey Jesus made them “exceedingly fearful” and wonder, “What type of man is this?”

If only they had remembered the words of Nahum during this faith test.

Nahum 1:3-5 [read Nahum 1:2-11 (3-5)]

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power. The Lord will be sure to punish the guilty. The way He punishes is in the strong-wind and storm. The clouds are the dust under His feet.
4 He speaks sharp words to the sea and makes it dry. He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel dry up. The flowers of Lebanon dry up. 5 Mountains shake because of Him, and the hills melt.
The earth is laid waste before Him, the world and everyone in it. (NLV)

KJV: The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. 5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

When the storm of your faith tests you, speak to the storm. Use your power and authority in Jesus’ name and say, ‘Peace, be still!’

The fig tree

Jesus was very hungry. He saw a bare fig tree. He made it dry up.

Matthew 21:21 [read Matthew 21:20-22 (21)]

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do more. You will be able to say to this mountain, ‘Go, mountain, fall into the sea.’ And if you have faith, it will happen. (ICB)

KJV: Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Faith Tests Teach You

Psalms 32:7 [read Psalms 32:6-7 (7)]

You are my hiding place from every storm of life; Lord, you even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory. (TLB)

KJV: Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Child of God, are you a true follower of Christ during your stormy faith tests? Jesus was calm during the storm, “asleep on a pillow” [Mark 4:38]. Are you comfortably calm like Jesus or afraid (and worried) like the disciples?

My experience

Once, while driving through a high-wind area in a Volkswagen (bug), I did what Christ did: through the power of the Holy Spirit, I spoke to and rebuked the wind, and it ceased. Stand on faith during your stormy faith tests, and know that by faith, God will work for and through you if you believe.

Mustard seed faith

If you have a little faith, you can do what seems unthinkable.

Luke 17:6 [read Luke 17:5-10 (6)]

The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! (ISV)

KJV: And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Learn from Peter

Peter was a classic example of what not to do. He took his eyes off Jesus and began to focus on the situation. Do not look at the conditions and circumstances that surround you. Keep your eyes and mind on the Lord.

He is put to a test

Matthew 14:27-29 [read Matthew 14:22-33 (27-29)]

But immediately Jesus said to them. ‘Be brave! It is I. Do not be afraid.’ 28 Peter replied, ‘Lord, is it really you? If it is you, say to me, “Come here! Walk to me on the water.”’ 29 Jesus said to him, ‘Come to me.’ So Peter got down out of the boat. He walked on the water and he came towards Jesus. (EASY)

KJV: But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

The conditions caused him to doubt

Matthew 14:30-32 [read Matthew 14:22-33 (30-32)]

But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became scared, and started to sink. “Lord! Save me!” he cried out. 31 Immediately Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him, and said, “You have such little trust in me. Why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind died down, (FBV)

KJV: But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Spiritual blinders

I call it “using your spiritual blinders.” We walk by faith (what we know and believe; the Lord will “stretch forth His hand” to catch and rescue us), not by sight (what we see and feel; bad economy; unemployment; relationship problems, etc.).

We live according to the rule of faith, guiding our lives and behavior with respect and admiration for our relationship with God.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 [read 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (6-7)]

So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by what we believe will happen (faith), not by what we can see. (ERV)

KJV: Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Be patient and go through faith tests (sufferings)

James 5:10-11 [read James 5:7-12 (10-11)]

Brothers and sisters, think about the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. They are an example of how to be patient when you suffer. 11 As you know, we think that people who don’t give up are blessed. You have heard that Job was patient. And you have seen what the Lord finally did for him. The Lord is full of tender mercy and loving concern. (NIRV)

KJV: Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Each stormy faith test brings a new chance to show your faith. I know you feel like giving up. The storms of life are there to test your faith.

Learn to pass each faith test and be blessed, my friends. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Testing: Your Faith Is Being Tested, You Can Pass! – an estimated 12-minute read.

Dealing With Fear: You’ll Overcome It With Spiritual Growth – an estimated 7-minute read.

Better Life Through Christ Becomes Eternal Life With Christ – an estimated 8-minute read.

Joyful: Endure Your Life Tests; Be Full Of Joy! – an estimated 19-minute read.

You’re On Trial, Know How To Win? It’s Faith! – an estimated 10-minute read.