Transitions: Surviving Stormy Transitions

Have you ever been caught by surprise due to a change in circumstances? Sometimes events can take us by surprise. Our adrenaline kicks in. We may panic and say things we regret. There’s no time to process what is happening until the storm has passed. 

In our current series called “Transitions,” we’ve looked at geographical, relational, and transitions in our thinking. This week, we’ll cover circumstantial transitions. When our circumstances shift suddenly, perhaps due to a job change, sudden loss, or health crisis, we must find a way to process what has happened. As we process these sudden storms, we can see that Jesus was with us and teaching us something new about Himself. Going through such stormy transitions with Jesus makes all the difference.

How to Use This Guide 

Thank you for taking the time to do this Bible study. When we dig deeper into God’s word, He promises to bless us. We follow in the footsteps of King David, who wrote in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

This guide will provide a weekly framework for spiritual conversations with friends or family. We encourage you to reach out to a friend or two, pick a time to get together each week, and work through this guide together. This Bible study can also be a good tool for families, perhaps coordinated with mealtimes.

What does the Bible say?

Read Mark 4:35-41.

Who instigated the trip across the lake to the other side, according to Mark 4:35? Why do you think this might be important for what was about to happen? Skip to Mark 4:38 to see what Jesus did after they set off from the shore. What does this say about Jesus’ belief that they would arrive safely on the other side of the lake? 

What happened after Jesus fell asleep, according to 4:37? How did the disciples respond to the surprising squall (4:38)? What do they ask Jesus, and what does their question reveal about their beliefs and feelings at the surprise storm? What did Jesus do next, and what did He say to the wind and waves? How did these physical elements respond to His words? What were Jesus’ questions to the disciples in Mark 4:40? How did they react in 4:41? 

This same story has parallel accounts in Matthew 8:23-27 and Luke 8:22-25. Read them and observe the similarities and differences. We can expect that the recordings of this event would not be exactly alike because different authors wrote them. This is the beauty of having four gospel accounts. Each writer can contribute subtle nuances to the stories, record the conversations as they remember them, and provide commentary. This in no way lessens the authority and holy inspiration of the Scriptures that were passed down to us.

If you look ahead to what happened when Jesus and His disciples landed on the other side of the lake, you’ll find the reason why Jesus wanted to take the journey in the middle of the night. Even though Jesus knew what was ahead, He wasn’t afraid. He could even fall asleep! A man possessed by a legion of demons awaited Him on the other side. Jesus went on to deliver this man from unimaginable suffering, but He was rebuffed by the people who lived there. The people begged Him to go back from where He came from, everyone except the man who had experienced Jesus’ healing. This man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus instructed him to stay and tell the people what had happened to him. Jesus turned a man possessed by a legion of demons into an evangelist. What a wonderful reason to make a trip!

Jesus had plans for the disciples who accompanied Him along the way. He fully expected them to eventually be able to do the same works that He was doing. Jesus promised, upon the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit in Acts 2, that all who follow Him would go into the world and spread the good news about Him. Jesus had a long view in mind for His disciples. This is why He allowed them to experience a surprising storm in the middle of the night. This is why He stirred them to think about the strength of their faith. 

Today, Jesus still calls those who follow Him into a deeper faith in Him. Our faith is our belief in Jesus, and it is so precious, but the opposite of faith is fear and doubt. Faith is a consciousness about God that can grow stronger and stronger as we walk with Him. Sometimes He allows us to experience surprising storms in our lives and these events show us the condition and strength of our faith. These surprises can come in different forms: a sobering health diagnosis, unfaithfulness in a relationship, a demotion or company downsizing, an injury, a car accident, a robbery or violent encounter, or the sudden ending of a lifelong dream. We can often only react to such incidences, and we must process what happened after the fact. God will meet us in these times and help us make sense of what has happened and what we can learn from it. 

Like the disciples, we are often tempted to question why God would allow something like a sudden squall to come upon us and wonder if He really cares for us. The answer has to do with our faith in Him. Our belief in Jesus will sustain us during the transitions after a storm. Our Lord can provide us with a sturdy framework that will help us piece together the lesson or meaning He has for us. Even though an event can come upon us like a sudden storm, the process of understanding God’s hand in it can take some time. 

Have you ever experienced a sudden storm in your life? How did you come to process it? Did you process it with the eyes of faith? What happened? Did you experience a new flourishing in your life? Christians can help each other by telling their stories of God’s faithfulness during their stormy transitions. Who can you tell your story to today?

Here is a verse to memorize from Hebrews 11:1:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Faith like this can move mountains and sustain us through any stormy transition.

Prayer: Father, would You strengthen and increase my faith in You? Help me trust You even when I face surprising storms in my life. May I see Your hand and know Your ways as I process what has happened. After I make it through, help me share my story with others. Amen.