3 Lessons I Learned From the Storms of Life

Last Updated on February 26, 2025 by Andrea

* I am not a medical doctor or psychiatrist. These claims are not intended as medical or psychological advice. See a doctor or licensed mental health provider for clinical depression. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact your doctor or call 988 from your cell phone right away. There is help. 💕

Storms

Life’s storms…you know…

We’ve all been through them.

Sometimes they are physical storms – hurricanes, blizzards, thunderstorms, tornados

Sometimes they are storms of loss – loss of a job, marital loss, dream loss, child loss, loss of a relationship

Sometimes they are storms of disease – an unexpected diagnosis of cancer, diabetes, or dementia

Finally we may expect spiritual storms – a crisis of faith, a season of unbelief, a loved one who goes astray

We expect these kinds of storms of life. We would never ask God to send them, but we know that He will allow them sometimes. The good news is that time spent now in prayer, study, and praise will help us to cope when those storms do come.

Today I want to talk about a different kind of storm. I call this a storm of grey.

Pervasive Grey

Grey so oppressive we can hardly take a full breath.

Grey so pervasive that the world is colorless.

A grey so all-encompassing that the things that usually make us praise are met with silence.

Grey that seems to take over gravity and weighs down our very soul.

This is the gray of depression. You know there’s nothing wrong, but there’s also nothing right. This pit is so deep it seems even God can’t reach down and pull you out. You’re in the middle of a storm that is so powerful you are swept away by it. This raging storm steals our breath and all hope feels lost.

I know. I’ve spent much of my life in this “grey zone.” It feels like no one understands and so you put on the happy face to pretend you don’t feel empty inside. You smile through the pain, denying that you feel like you are dying inside. I understand, sweet friend.

Predictable vs Unpredictable Storms

We know how to handle those big storms. We see them coming, even if we don’t know when they will arrive. The storms of grey just blindside us. People don’t understand – everything looks fine. But we know things aren’t fine. Things are anything but fine. We can hardly move, hardly speak, hardly breathe. Even crying takes too much energy. We dream of pulling the covers over our heads and just fading away until the grey lifts.

Truths About Grey Seasons

However, I’m not here to tell you I have a magic bean to sweep out the storm of grey. (Sorry.) My message today is three-fold.

1. First, just because people can’t see this storm, can’t give it a name, doesn’t diminish the fact that it IS a violent storm. It will sweep us off our feet just as quickly as any hurricane will.
2. Second, just as God will get you through the storms of weather, loss, and sickness, He will also get you through this storm of grey. He will be right there with you in the grey. He will be holding you, even when you feel (or want to be) invisible. He knows what you are going through.
3. Third, because of the first two truths we don’t have to have fear of the storm. Though we are in a furious squall, we don’t have to despair. We can allow the peace of God to rule in the storm, just as it did when Jesus was in the storm with His disciples.

Psalm 121 tells us that we can praise God in the storm – HE is where our help comes from. He will help us. And sometimes these storms serve to draw us closer to Him. I know they do for me. All I can do is cling to Jesus and hold on until the storm passes. Jesus is the great calm in the midst of the storm. He’s our firm foundation. When we seek the presence of God we have a safe place to be in our darkest hours.

Blessings

God’s word reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging (Psalm 46:1-3). If you know Scripture you know that there are valuable lessons filled with blessings just waiting for us to believe. God’s promise to us is to always be with us. He is our solid rock in every storm.

I hope you are in a sunny season right now and every day is a sunny day. ☀️ But if you aren’t, I’ll be praying for you.

I know first-hand how difficult it is to live through this grey season of depression. In fact, I seem to return to it with regularity. But you can live through it, just as I do. While you’re there, I’ll be praying…and God will be holding you.

In the meantime, enjoy this song from Casting Crowns:

* I am not a medical doctor or psychiatrist. These claims are not intended as medical or psychological advice. See a doctor or licensed mental health provider for clinical depression. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact your doctor or call 988 from your cell phone right away. There is help. 💕

With love,

🌸 Andrea

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