You Can Smile in a Storm | How to Happy | Twin Rivers Church

We are back in a series called How to Happy. And we're kind of on this study because, well, if you ask anybody what they want out of life, most people would say this, I just want to be happy. And the problem though, is we're not very good at it. As a matter of fact, most research shows, collectively, we are really about as unhappy as we've ever been. So we've been kind of diving into what is it we're missing in this search. Now, today's message is gonna be incredibly important, especially if you're in a difficult season. Today's message is called, You Can Smile in a Storm. Come on, just turn to the person that's beside you, show them that big smile you got. Go ahead, show them what you got, what you're working with. Show the smile, come on, Wesco, Jeffco, do it. I don't know if you've ever looked into the science behind smiling, but it's pretty impressive. As a matter of fact, people who smile frequently have reduced stress, they have better immune systems, and they live longer, and it is scientifically proven that people who smile frequently are seen as more attractive. So if you are single today, come on, show those pearly whites. Now, most estimates say it takes about 22 muscles in your face to smile. Strangely, it takes 37 muscles to frown.

Children smile 400 times a day. Adults only smile, on average, 20 times a day. So somewhere in the journey from childhood to adulthood, we lose 380 smiles every day. You start to ask, why is that? Quickly, I think income tax is one of the contributors, but I would also say the fact that life is hard and that there are storms or crisis that just seem to come out of nowhere. You know, storms come in all different kind of shapes and sizes, from diagnosis, divorce, you know, unemployment, betrayal, breakups. And when they do, when they blow in, usually our happiness blows out. And that's because most people have adopted this belief that our happiness is tied to our happenings, that when things are going good, I'm happy. When things are going bad, I'm unhappy. What we basically believe is happiness is situational. Scripture presents it a different way, though, that happiness is in fact not situational, it's spiritual. Let me explain. The word joy in Scripture in the Greek is the word charis. It's the exact same word used to describe the English word grace. So in effect, joy, like grace, is a divine download. It's a disposition that doesn't come from circumstance, but from a deep well of the Holy Spirit's work in you. So let me say it this way. Joy is a spiritual mindset

that you are able to have even in hard times. Now, that should be encouraging for some of you because, you know, it's not lost on me, some of you are having a very tough year. I mean, you set out this year and you were hoping it was gonna be your best, and maybe in fact, it's turned out to be your worst. That if this year for you was a fragrance, it would be skunk. If it was a flavor, it'd be orange juice and toothpaste. You know, if this year for you was an animal, it'd be a cat, you know? I mean, it's just bad. Now listen, for all you people, I already heard from some of you, that you cat people, you're gonna send me an email. I got a special litter box for your email, okay? That's what I'm saying. So go ahead and send them, I'm ready. No, here's the truth. When you're in a tough season, here's what we ultimately believe. We just believe that it's naive to think that in the middle of a storm, we could have joy. But most of the time, anything you do in faith looks naive. Listen to me, you can smile in a storm through the power of the Holy Spirit. And I wanna talk to you about it today, coming from the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 27. It centers on a guy named Paul.

Paul was once a persecutor of the followers of Jesus. And then one day he has this encounter with Christ to where he completely surrenders his life and instead becomes a church planter and preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, he would go from city to city, and as he preached, he would often kind of antagonize religious structures. And when he would do so, that eventually it would stir up a crowd. And in one particular city, a riot started and Paul was arrested as an instigator. Well, through a series of appeals in court, Paul found himself ready to stand trial before a Roman court. Now that seems like bad news, but actually it's very good news because Paul's great ambition was this, to preach in the cultural epicenter of Rome. So by getting arrested and appealing to a Roman court. Or what he basically did is got a government-funded one-way ticket to the place he always wanted to go. And the Bible says he loaded onto this ship heading for Rome with great expectation. But as the trip went on, a storm blows in. And as the storm blows in, for those who are traveling with Paul, joy gets thrown overboard. Let me show it to you in just a couple of verses. Verse 14 says, before very long, a wind of hurricane force called a northeaster swept down from an island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind. I want you to notice this part.

It says, so we gave way to it and were driven along. Now storms are a part of life and they're unpredictable and they're uncontrollable. And for most of us, what we believe is the only way to receive a storm is exactly what this says, is we just throw our hands up and give way. That we become driven by it, that our emotions are driven by it, that our mindset's driven by it, that our faith is driven by it. Like we're just in a storm and there's nothing we can do. And when you take that disposition towards a storm, when you just say, well, I'm now as subject to the storm, what you end up with is an experience that looks just like the crew on Paul's ship had. I read this whole chapter and I noted every single thing that it notes about them during this storm. And I put it in a list for you just to show you the experience they had being driven along, if you will, being given up to the storm. First it says they were fearful, which means they lived in constant stress. They were physically worn at one point, not eating for 14 days. They were way off course from where they wanted to be. As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit had warned them, don't go that way. They ignored him and ended up in a storm. Then they're in a place where they're barely holding it together. At one point they pass ropes under the hull of the ship and try to physically hold this ship together. Then they start to act selfishly, forgetting one another. As a matter of fact, at one point, a couple of them tried to take the only life raft and just go away from everyone else. And then ultimately they end up in a place where they're ready to jump ship. They throw their tackle overboard and they're ultimately throwing their hands up and ready to give up. Now, if you read that, you would say, yeah, that's how people act in a storm. That's what you do in a storm.

That's the only option in a storm because here's our theology, in storms you can only suffer. Well, the thing is, I read the chapter again and I read what Paul's experience was like. And here's what it notes about Paul, that he was full of peace. That he was physically strong. That he was confident he was in God's will. That he actually rested and slept regularly. That he was around serving others and that at no point did he ever believe he wasn't going to arrive safely. And as I read the ship's, the ship's crew's experience and I read Paul's experience, here's what I heard the Holy Spirit say, same boat, same storm, different experience. Same boat, same storm, totally different experience. And it got me thinking how two people can go through cancer and one of them grows bitter and one of them becomes a beacon of hope. Same storm, same boat, different experience. It got me thinking about people who, who they thought they were headed in a direction and then a door shuts on them. One of them will get, you know, in despair and greed what was lost. The other one sees it as God's redirection and is excited for what's coming. Same boat, same storm, totally different experience. Reminded me about two people who lose their jobs. You know, one of them lets the negativity push them into a depression. The other one looks at it as God's saving them from something, enjoys the time with their family and sees it as a career reset. Same boat, same storm, totally different experiences. This is the epiphany of chapter 27. It's this. You don't get, in life, you don't get to choose if you have it with storms or without. But you do get to choose if you have storms with joy or without joy. No matter how bad your situation is, if you're a follower of Jesus with the Holy Spirit residing

in you, you get a choice to have joy in a storm. And Peter, another apostle, supports it this way in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 12. Look at this. He says, dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come upon you. It's testing you. As though something, don't look at it as something strange is happening, but rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. So Peter says, here's how we look at storms. We rejoice in them. And as we rejoice, we release the ability to be overjoyed despite what we're going through. Now, now listen, one of the reasons that I draw your attention to this, that you have a choice, is because this is much more significant than you think it is. The way you respond in a storm ultimately reveals what you see as Lord. See if you lose your faith and your emotions go out of control and your mind just because you're in a circumstance That means you're ruled by your circumstance Whereas if you stand in faith and you choose to smile in a storm with confidence that God's in control It shows that the rulership of your life is under the Lord Jesus Christ Listen, if you're gonna smile in the storm, you're gonna have to get a little bit defiant in your spirit You're gonna have to say I will not be driven by storms. I will be driven by what God says I will not be driven by my feelings I'm will be driven by my faith that's rooted in the Word of God that I will not be driven by this situation I will be driven by God's Spirit in my reactions and in the way that I look at this circumstance Difficulties will not determine my demeanor. I am a person who can smile in a storm I will not lose my gladness just because of a diagnosis. I will not lose my joy just because I lost my job I will have joy because it's my birthright as a son or daughter of God despite what's going on circumstances You don't rule my life. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ and my demeanor is going to show it even in this storm This is the determination. This is the the grid This is the reality of what it means to stand in a storm and smile now. Here's what I want to do today I want to I want to show you exactly what Paul did you can't control storms?

You can't solve storms they come For a season and then they pass but here's your choice. You can't smile in them So so what I'm going to share with you today is not how to solve them It's not how to control them, but it will tell you how you could have joy in them Here's the first thing if you want to smile in a storm number one is you must anchor to a promise Now one of the reasons joy gets swept away the minute difficulty comes is because frankly we put our joy in things that are too Light, you know if your joy is tied to a job you just got well that joy is only gonna last about a week Cuz then you're gonna realize the mess somebody left you if you if your joy is tied to a car you just bought Well that joy is only gonna last about a month until the payment shows up If that joy is tied to a brand new marriage that you just entered into it's only gonna last about a year Then you're gonna realize everything his mama didn't teach him. Okay? The reality is our joy gets swept away because we put it in things that are too light Listen, there's there's there's a hope that can endure a diagnosis. There's a joy that can endure difficulty there is faith that can stand in the middle of the life's most difficult seasons and All of it traces back to a promise from God's Word And that's ultimately what what Paul does is Paul stands up with the wind blowing and the waves crashing on this boat And here's what he says verse 22, but now I urge you to keep up your courage Because not one of you will be lost Only the ship will be destroyed And how do you know this Paul? well last night an angel of God to whom I belong and to whom I serve stood beside me and He said do not be afraid Paul You must stand trial before Caesar and God has graciously given you the lives of all those who sell with you So Paul looks at him and says keep up your courage men for I have faith in God and it will happen Just as he told me in this moment Paul standing up with boldness and courage and all these men are crumbling But Paul has a promise And if you're gonna stand up in a situation and smile in a storm You're gonna have to have a promise and I know what some of you think well like well pastor I ain't had no angel at my bed last night. I Don't have no promise

You're right. You got a book of them This is why a W Tozer said the Bible is not only a book which was once spoken But a book which is now speaking You got 66 books of promises Open up any spot and find there's thousands upon thousands of them If you just took the book of Isaiah alone, you would find promise after promise No matter what storm you're facing For example, if you're overwhelmed today Isaiah 26 3 says God keeps in perfect Peace those who keep their minds steadfast on him If you're worn out and weak today Isaiah 40 29 says he gives strength to the weary and increases power to the weak That if you're in need healing Isaiah 53 5 says by his stripes I am healed if you're under spiritual attack Isaiah 54 17 says no weapon formed against you will prosper in every tongue that raises against you will be put down if you're in A storm Isaiah 43 2 says though you pass through the waters. They will not overtake you throw you cross rivers They will not sweep over you. You got to get a promise and stand in a storm with a promise That's what we anchor to the Bible is not a book of wishes. It is not a book of hopes and dreams It is a book of promises because every promise is tied to the very character of God when Paul says an angel Stood beside me what he is including is God stands by his word His reputation is tied to every one of those promises. So you You don't just have a well-wishing like a greeting card, you have a literal promise from God that is tied to the character of God, the holiness of God, the integrity of God, the might of God, the strength of God, the peace of God. God is perfect, that means no promise of his has ever failed because it's tied to the very DNA of who he is. You get a promise, you get God on the situation. Now, I read recently that when a storm comes, a herd of cows will move away from the storm. Now, this seems smart until you realize

you can't outrun a storm. So basically, all they do is end up prolonging the experience. On the other hand, buffalo, very interesting, instinctively, when they sense a storm is coming, the herd turns and runs toward the storm because they recognize the shortest way to get out of a storm is through a storm. I really felt this as I was praying for you this week. Some of you have been enduring storms and you're trying to outrun it. Listen to me, you're never gonna outrun it. You have to overcome it. As a believer, some of you are facing diagnosis, you're facing some things with your kids that you can't even, can't fully even put into words. There's some things going on in your home. I'm telling you, you're not gonna outrun it. What you need to do is turn off the distractions, open your Bible, get some grit about you and find a promise. And then every day you show up with that promise and you face that problem and you look right at it and you declare what God says about this storm. And you do that day after day after day. Some of you need to get the inner warrior and you stirred up. Some of you need to start acting in the authority that you've been given as a follower of Christ. You need to show up and show that you've got more faith in what God says than what the circumstances is presenting right now.

Come on, nobody's gonna pray you out of this storm. Nobody's gonna life group you out of this storm. Nobody's gonna take your hand and lead you out of this storm. This is a season where you get a promise and you stand on that promise and you face what's coming because you know every promise of God outlasts every problem you'll ever have. And this is a time of growing up. This is a time of pushing through. You can smile in a storm, but you're gonna have to anchor to a promise. Now here's the second one. The second one is this, is that you're gonna have to, I know this is odd, this is odd, but this is what this text says. You're gonna have to serve those sailing with you. One survey found that of Americans who gave at least 100 hours a year to serving, 63% of them said that they were physically in better shape because of serving. 73% of them said that they had a less stress because of serving. And 89% of people who serve at least 100 hours a year volunteering said that they had a better wellbeing than before they served. So basically research says this, the quickest path to your happiness is focusing on helping someone else be happy. And Paul must have known that

because in verse 33 it says, "'Just before dawn, Paul urged them to eat. "'For the last 14 days,' he said, "'you have been in constant suspense "'and have gone without food. "'You haven't eaten anything. "'Now I urge you to take some food. "'You need it to survive. "'Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.'" And the Bible says that Paul started to serve them this meal. Now listen, the last thing most of us wanna do when we're in a difficult circumstance is serve anybody. It's the last thing on our minds. We get very selfish when circumstances are difficult. But Paul recognized that he needed to be a conduit to someone else's life. Let me say it this way. A pipe that delivers water ultimately refleshes someone else, but it gets wet in the process. And when you choose to make, in the middle of a difficult situation, when you choose to serve someone else, the grace that you're giving to someone else, some of it gets on you. Listen, some of you need encouragement. Start encouraging other people and watch and see if some of that joy doesn't come on you. As you start helping someone else with their difficulty,

you got your own difficulty, but you start helping them. Watch and see if the grace that's moving through you, some of it doesn't stay on you. Watch and see that some of the wisdom you help someone else navigate. You got your own problems, but you help them navigate their problems. All of a sudden, that grace that you're extending to them, some of that gets on you. Listen, the reason some of you are in a storm and there's an extra measure of difficulty, because you've gotten real selfish in the storm. You only focused on you. You only talk about you. You only think about you. There is no refreshing in selfishness. There's only a refreshing. God's grace flows through people who are serving other people. Someone shared with me the story of a lady named Patty. Patty was a very dedicated mother and wife, and she, a wonderful, wonderful lady. She served in her church's nursery for years. She held all those babies, hugged them. I mean, hundreds, if not thousands of diapers changed. And then one day, she started noticing some physical limitations. They progressed. And then she had several tests

until they found a neurological disorder. Her by the time everything was done. She had lost her ability to speak had no strength barely able to lift herself up in the bed She was put in a rehabilitation center. And when she was put there, I mean her it's like her spirit just started to shrink She didn't want to eat anymore She didn't rest. Well Doctors were so concerned they called her family and said listen if something doesn't change. She's not gonna last very long We were only they said we only think she'll be here another few weeks One night her daughter sitting there looking at her mother said mom I Got an idea So why don't I put you in this wheelchair? Let me take you to meet some of the people that are here in this place with you Would you like that her mother nodded and agreed she loaded her up and willed her mother into a room that was across the hall Her mom couldn't speak but she would go up and just hold the hand of the person that was there comforting them Then she willed her to the next room and the person was sleeping But she noticed her mom take her hand and put it up on their leg and bow her head and pray for that person Room after room with no words and very little physical strength Patti went in and served. However, she could to whoever was there Within 24 hours her appetite returned Within 36 hours. She was able to sit up in the bed on it without her own strength She ended up living near a whole nother year Before that disease took her because every week her daughter would take her into serving other people and it kept her moving And looking forward as God's grace flowed through her some of it got on her. Listen. I know it's not easy And I a year situation might not be as dire as Patti's But I'm telling you if you want to experience grace in a storm You need to start showing grace to somebody else I'm asking you to trust the words of Jesus Christ when he said in Luke 6 38 Give and it will be given to you Good measure press down shaken together running over Will be put in your lap notice this for with the measure you use it. Will it be measured back to you? Listen when you serve somebody else supernatural grace starts to flow in your life again And it gives you the ability to smile in a storm. Here's the last one. The last one is this

Intentionally be grateful while the wind blows Grateful for difficulty. Have you lost your mind? The reason we think stuff like that is because we think that comfort is a prerequisite for gratitude But actually that's not true perspective is the prerequisite for gratitude The nothing has to change. You just have to see it differently. Let me give an example. There was a Girl who was in college and she sent this text message to her mom and dad Dear mom and dad. I have so much to tell you Because of the fire in my dorm set off because of the fire set in my dorm by student riots I have experienced temporary lug damage and had to go to the hospital While I was there, I fell in love with an orderly and we have moved in together I dropped out of school when I found out I was pregnant and he got fired because of his drinking So we're thinking about starting over in Alaska where we may get married, but we'll have the baby and decide afterwards your loving daughter PS none of this really happened, but I did flunk chemistry and I wanted you to keep it in perspective. I Think every college students like that's a good one. I'm gonna keep that one, you know Listen Verse 35 says this about Paul there in the middle of the storm He says as he said this he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all then he broke it and began to eat and They were all encouraged. I mean Sometimes the Bible's just funny. I mean we're talking about it's Rocking waves are crashing. The the wood is creaking We don't know at any point that I mean the whole thing is about to go in there and here Paul stands up and says Hey guys, let's bow our head and thank God Thank God Paul we're about to be taken under But here's what's beautiful about it. See people of faith just have this perspective where they can see the storm, but they can also see God Like Paul says up. Yeah. Well guys, uh, we may be in a storm, but thank God we got a boat We may be in a storm, but thank God we got something to eat. We may be in a storm But thank God he's still at work and he's promised us. We're gonna come through on the other side

It's not that the storm stops. There's just this perspective change And and what I hope is I know some of you are going through a very very difficult season But I just want to be your Paul today and just say hey, you may be unemployed But you still got a roof over your head, you know, you you may need a vacation But at least you still got a job, you know, you you may hate this semester, but at least you're once-in-a-lifetime Step closer to graduation. Listen, your kids may be acting a fool, but at least they're healthy as they do it. See, it's just a perspective that's required. And when that perspective changes, all of a sudden you start to realize, oh, okay, there's still some good going on because storms have a way of making you think that's the only thing in your life. But listen, there's no storm so great that you can't be grateful for God's goodness in your life. Listen, I don't care what you're going through. He got you up this morning, that He put breath in your lungs, that you're loved by Him, created by Him, empowered by Him, that His Holy Spirit is on the inside of you, that He's walking and ordering your steps, that He's keeping you, that you are not alone in this journey, but He is right by your side, and that He has promised to bring you to the other side of this storm. Listen, you got something even better than a boat. You got a promise you're gonna make it to the other side, that God says, whether this takes you,

I'll take care of you in this world or in the next, that every one of us without eternal promise can look at a situation and go, God, thank you for this. As a matter of fact, some of you need to thank God that you're in the storm, because it's what's strengthening you. It's what's growing your faith. You prayed in January, oh God, I want strong faith. You just didn't realize it comes by storms. Thank you, Lord, that you hear our prayers. Thank you that you deliver exactly what we need. Thank you, Lord, that even though we don't want to be in this, we recognize you are working all things together for the good of those who are called according to your purpose and love you. Thank you that you've not left me the same way. Thank you that at the end of this year, I'm gonna be stronger than I started this year, despite this storm. Listen, you can smile in a storm. For no other reason than this, storms don't last. Acts 27, 44, everyone reached land safely. I love the beach and I don't remember what trip it was on, but I remember setting out watching the water and I just love it because it just kind of relaxes you, puts you in a reflective state. It's really great to prepare sermons there. And I remember one particular morning, I got up to do it on one particular trip and I came out and I was almost a little kind of stunned

because the beach yesterday that was so beautiful, today was not beautiful. The tide had come out. The jagged rocks showing, driftwood, trash. I mean, just yesterday, what calmed me and was enjoyable, beautiful scene, was now look like somebody need to clean this up. Some of you just need to remember the tide's just gone out and it's just revealing a bunch of stuff you don't like looking at, but don't lose hope because just a few hours later, the tide came right back in. Listen, storms don't last. And if no other reason to smile is just know this problem has an expiration date on it. And so here's the thing, if that being true, you know you're not gonna live here forever, why not just smile in the meantime? Why not have some joy while you're waiting on the tide to come back in? Why would you wanna be miserable knowing you're gonna be delivered from what you're facing right now? You can smile in a storm with the Holy Spirit's help.