For much of my life, I believed that the troubles we experience in life were simply disruptions to what I was trying to accomplish.
Then I read somewhere this inspirational quote, “Not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear a path.”
Doesn’t that make you want to look for a silver lining in the dark cloud that just rained on your parade?
How should we evaluate inspirational quotes that we hear or read?
Criteria to evaluate all inspirational quotes
So many times what we read or hear sounds reasonable, even Biblical. Should we then adopt these inspirational quotes as a direction for our lives?
Social media is full of motivational quotes. Having several Facebook groups, I use inspirational quotes often. But just because they appeal to our comfort zone is not a reason to post them.
In order to have the best experience in life, we need to avoid always going with our natural reaction.
Being creatures of habit, most of us don’t want changes in life. We want everything to be cozy and comfortable. We don’t want our comfort zone disrupted.
We must be careful not to let inspirational quotes create pivotal points in our lives without first asking some serious questions.
- Who said it and does their lifestyle honor God?
- Are there Biblical examples to support the inspirational quote?
- Does the motivational quote contradict something in Scripture?
- Does the quote have the potential to encourage all people or just one subgroup?
So let’s use these criteria to evaluate our quote today.
Who said, “Not all storms come to disrupt your life”?
According to information on the internet, Paulo Coelho is the author of this inspirational quote. He is a Brazillian author. His writings have a lot of spiritual ideas woven through them but they are not primarily Biblical in nature.
In the more recent years of his life, there is evidence that he was involved in the support of impoverished children and the elderly. God has a heart for widows, orphans, and the underprivileged.
Are there Biblical examples to support the inspirational quote?
We do find Biblical support for the inspirational quote, “Not all storms come to disrupt your life.”
When the Israelites were trapped between the red sea and the oncoming Egyptian army, it took a literal “wind” or “storm” to clear a path through the Red Sea.
This was a time for desperate people to learn about the power and care that God gives to His people.
We too can have some of the greatest times of growth when we go through such storms.
Does the motivational quote contradict something in Scripture?
There is nothing contradictory in this motivational quote. In fact, there are quite a few Bible verses that support “Not all storms come to disrupt your life.”
“Count it all joy, my brothers (and sisters), when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 ESV (explanation added)
“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 ESV
Does the quote have the potential to encourage all people or just one subgroup?
This is an important question. God does not have favorites in His family. When we want to help people feel better about life through inspirational quotes, we need to be sure that the reason they have a negative self-identity is not due to a non-Biblical lifestyle. The truth of God is for all people. Sometimes unpleasant feelings are because we need to make necessary changes in our lives.
We have evidence of God’s truth in countless places.
For instance, science is not a Christian practice, yet in many ways, what the Bible has been telling us all along ends up being supported by scientific evidence.
Truth is truth. It does not matter if it comes straight from Scripture or from someone who really does not know God. It is our job to make sure that before sharing or adopting quotes that they are Biblical.
And so, what can we learn from the inspirational quote, “Not all storms come to disrupt your life?”
God wants us to trust Him
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
God’s ways are better than ours
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God’s plans for us are good
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Life will be rocky at times. We live in a broken world with broken people. Regardless of what happens, God has promised,
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV
You might also like to read:
- Key Bible verses for surviving the storms of life
- Feeling Hopeless? So did the widow of Zerephath
- Getting up again when life knocks you down
Many thanks to Bible Gateway for easy navigation of different translations of the Scriptures.