Riding Out Life's Storms
Written by Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
Storms come in many forms. They are not always the howling winds or torrents of rain we see outside. Sometimes, they’re the quiet, unspoken struggles that shake our foundations. They show up unexpectedly, testing every bit of strength we think we have. There were moments when I thought the storm would tear me apart, unraveling everything I had worked so hard to hold together. But it didn’t. Why? Because I realized I wasn’t weathering the storm alone. In those darkest moments, I discovered the most profound truth: the Creator walks with me, even in the fiercest gales.
I recall one particular storm—not a literal one, but the kind that sweeps through your soul, leaving confusion and despair in its wake. It was a time when life had lost its clarity, and I felt as if I were submerged in a sea of uncertainty. The more I tried to push through, the more tangled I became in doubt. I remember feeling as though I was drowning, gasping for air as wave after wave of fear crashed over me. But then, something changed. Not outside of me, but deep within. A quiet voice in my heart whispered, “Let there be peace,” and just like that, something inside me calmed. The storm outside didn’t immediately change, but my perspective did. Peace doesn’t always come from the absence of the storm; it comes from finding stillness within.
Faith doesn’t erase the storm. It simply gives us the strength to stand firm in the midst of it. The winds may howl, and the rain may pelt our spirit, but something deeper, rooted in the Divine, keeps us grounded. That grounding, for me, has been the most precious gift of all.
There was a time when I stood on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the ocean. Below, the waves crashed violently against the rocks, and the wind howled in my ears. Yet, I felt no fear. The elements around me were wild and uncontained, but within, there was stillness. A quiet assurance that I was held, anchored in a love that nothing could shake. In that moment, I truly understood what it means to trust—not just in the Creator, but in the peace He provides.
Life’s tempests are inevitable, but we don’t have to be swept away by them. I’ve learned that I have the power to speak to the storm, to declare “enough” when it threatens to overwhelm me. It’s not a forceful command, but a quiet, resolute faith that lets me stand firm. There have been times when everything around me seemed to be falling apart, and yet, deep within, there was an unshakable trust, an anchor tethered to something greater than myself. In those moments, I knew I wasn’t just surviving. I was being held together, piece by piece, by the Creator’s hands.
I’ve faced many storms, each with its unique lesson. Some have come as gentle showers, testing my patience, while others have been more like hurricanes, uprooting everything I thought I knew. What I’ve come to understand is that no matter the intensity of the storm, the sun will shine again. The rain is not the enemy. It’s a cleansing force, washing away the things that no longer serve me. Each storm has shaped me, refined me, and helped me see that growth often hides in the most turbulent moments.
The storms of life are not punishments. They are opportunities to deepen our faith, surrender our need for control, and trust that even in chaos, there is a divine purpose. I used to fear the storm, but now, I welcome it. I see it as a divine conversation, a way for the Creator to say, “There’s more for you to learn, more for you to become.” It’s in the middle of the tempest that I’ve discovered who I truly am and, more importantly, who the Creator has called me to be.
When I was younger, my grandmother would often remind me, “You can’t always ask for calmer waters, but you can pray for a stronger heart to endure the waves.” At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the depth of her wisdom, but now I understand. Faith doesn’t make life’s journey easier; it equips us to navigate it with grace, to rise above the waves rather than be consumed by them.
After every storm, when the clouds part and the sunlight pours through, I find myself standing in awe. It’s not the survival of the storm that leaves me speechless. It’s the revelation of what was revealed through it. In every tempest, there’s a deeper trust to be found, a greater faith to be discovered. Peace isn’t the absence of struggle; it’s the presence of the Divine guiding us through it, step by step.
The next time you face a storm, I encourage you to see it as more than just an obstacle. See it as a sacred opportunity, a chance to speak peace into your soul, to command calm amid chaos. Let your faith be your anchor, and trust that even when the sky looks darkest, the light is waiting just beyond the clouds, ready to break through.
Comments