Stand Still in the Storm

Sermon by Pastor Peter Lui
30 August 2026
Scripture: Psalm 42:5–6
Series: Holding On When Life Feels Heavy

As Elim Church concludes the series “Holding On When Life Feels Heavy,” Pastor Peter Lui speaks into the reality of living through turbulent and uncertain times.

Rising costs, employment uncertainty, health concerns, family struggles and unexpected changes can weigh heavily upon us. There are seasons when the pressures seem to come from every direction, leaving us tired, discouraged and wondering how much longer we can keep going.

Drawing from Psalm 42:5–6, Pastor Peter reminds us that while circumstances can overwhelm us, they do not have to overthrow us.

His encouragement is simple:

Face your pain honestly.
Fasten your faith firmly.
Forge ahead patiently.

Stand still in the storm and watch God work.

Face Your Pain Honestly

The psalmist begins with a deeply honest question:

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?”

He knew something was wrong within him and did not try to hide it.

Pastor Peter reminds us that Bible-based faith does not deny pain. David openly brought his fears and questions before God. Even Jesus, in Gethsemane, acknowledged that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow before surrendering Himself to the Father’s will.

In the same way, we do not have to put on a front and pretend everything is fine.

We can honestly say:

“I am worried.”
“I am disappointed.”
“I am afraid.”
“I don’t know what to do.”

But we should not stop there.

Pastor Peter encourages us to identify specifically what is troubling us. Is it finances? Health? Disappointment? Loneliness? Exhaustion? An unmet expectation?

Once we recognise the pain, we bring it before God and allow His truth to speak into it.

The psalmist first listened to his troubled soul, but then he spoke back to it:

“Put your hope in God.”

There are times when we must preach God’s truth to ourselves.

When fear says, “You won’t make it,” faith remembers that God will provide.

When anxiety says, “Everything is out of control,” faith remembers that God remains on His throne.

When despair says, “There is no future,” faith remembers that God still has a purpose.

Our feelings are real, but they are not always reliable. We must bring them under the authority of God’s Word.

Fasten Your Faith Firmly

The turning point in Psalm 42 did not come because the psalmist’s circumstances suddenly improved.

It came because his focus changed.

Instead of remaining consumed by his situation, he chose to remember God.

Pastor Peter highlights three things we must remember in the storm: God’s character, God’s presence and God’s promises.

Everything around us can change. Finances change. Employment changes. Health changes. People change. Plans change.

But God does not change.

Pastor Peter uses the picture of a ship anchored in a harbour. An anchor does not prevent the storm from coming, but it keeps the storm from carrying the ship away.

Our faith works in the same way.

The storm may shake us, but when we are anchored to God, it cannot carry us away from Him.

We also remember that God is present in our troubles. Scripture does not promise that we will never pass through deep waters or fire. Instead, God promises to be with us through them.

Sometimes God changes our circumstances. At other times, He gives us the grace and strength to endure them.

Paul understood this when he asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh. God’s answer was not to remove it, but to assure him:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Sometimes faith is not asking God to remove the mountain immediately. It is asking Him for enough grace and strength to climb it.

Forge Ahead Patiently

The final encouragement is to keep moving forward patiently.

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

Waiting on God does not mean passive resignation. It is active trust.

Pastor Peter points out that Scripture does not say those who wait upon God will never become tired. Instead, it says their strength will be renewed.

God may not always change the difficult situation immediately because sometimes He is using the situation to change us.

Through perseverance, our faith grows stronger and our character becomes more like Christ.

But we do not need strength for the entire journey all at once.

We need grace for today.

Pastor Peter uses the illustration of driving along a dark road at night. The headlights do not illuminate the entire journey to our destination. They simply give enough light for the stretch immediately ahead.

Yet as we keep moving, more of the road becomes visible.

God often leads us in the same way.

We may not know when the season will end or how every problem will be resolved. Instead of trying to solve everything at once, we can ask:

“Lord, what is the next responsible step You want me to take?”

We cannot solve every problem today, but we can take the next faithful step.

We may not repair an entire relationship today, but we can make the next gracious move.

We may not see how this season will end, but we can obey God today and trust Him with tomorrow.

Worship Before the Victory

Pastor Peter concludes with one of the most powerful expressions in Psalm 42:

“I will yet praise Him.”

The psalmist was not praising because everything had already changed. His soul was still downcast.

Yet he chose not to allow his present pain to determine his posture towards God.

Habakkuk made the same declaration. Even when the fig tree did not blossom, the fields produced no food and the livestock disappeared, he declared:

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”

This is not pretending everything is fine. It is faith that chooses to trust God before seeing the outcome.

There will be times when we must make our own “though, yet” declaration:

Though finances are tight, yet I will trust God.

Though my prayers seem unanswered, yet I will trust God.

Though my heart is weary, yet I will trust God.

Though I cannot see what God is doing, yet I will trust Him.

Faith worships not only after the breakthrough, but also while waiting for it.

Final Reflection

Perhaps you are carrying a burden today that nobody else can see.

You smile, shake hands, worship and continue with life, but inside you are wondering how much longer you can carry the weight.

Pastor Peter reminds us that our present chapter is not our final chapter.

When life feels heavy:

Face your pain honestly. Don’t deny it. Bring it to God.

Fasten your faith firmly. Don’t sink with your circumstances. Anchor yourself to God’s character, presence and promises.

Forge ahead patiently. Don’t demand to see the entire road. Take the next faithful step.

We hold on not because we are naturally strong, but because God is faithful.

Christ is with us.
His grace is sufficient.
And morning is coming.

We may not understand what God is doing.

We may not know when this season will end.

We may not have strength for the whole journey.

But by His grace, we have enough strength for today.

So don’t give up.

Face your pain.
Fasten your faith.
Forge ahead.

And even in the storm, let your soul declare:

“I will hope in my God. I will yet praise Him.”