Author: Vanessa Moonkie

The Bible holds the answers to all our questions, yet the real issue is that we often own Bibles we don’t read. If someone asks, “Do you have a Bible?” we confidently reply, “Yes!” But when asked to quote a single verse, silence fills the room. Why? Because though we possess this treasure, we remain empty. The average believer is unfamiliar with the Word—we know opinions, church traditions, and everything else except Scripture. And it shows, especially in how we handle life’s storms. Stay rooted in the Word. Happy Tuesday, family! 🌸

“But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.”
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

First of all, this storm was sent by God. It was powerful and violent, threatening to break the ship, meaning it was a serious, life-threatening storm. Many of the storms we face in life feel just as intense. A parent gets diagnosed with a harsh disease. Some storms hit marriages, and people divorce over a storm that was never going to break the marriage, it was just a threat. Some of us go through violent storms, waking up stressed, spending the entire day stressed, and going to bed with no peace at all. These are the storms we face, real, heavy and sometimes very terrifying. No be joke o. No be small thing o.

Many of us instinctively try to solve the problem when a storm hits. We come up with plans just like the sailors did. We always have an ABC plan for what we’ll do when trouble comes. The sailors had a plan too. Their first response was to pray to their gods. They understood that storms have a spiritual dimension. They knew that engaging the supernatural must come first. You pray first. You seek God first. You call upon God first.

Dear believer, before you run around looking for friends and other sources of help, open your mouth and call upon your GOD! If men who worshiped false gods knew to turn to the supernatural first, how much more should you, a child of the True and Living God? The storm is looking for a response and we foolishly give it a fleshly response and think there will be a calm. No. Respond in the spirit!

Thennnn they decided to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the load. For some, that “cargo” is their marriage. Others throw away their Bibles, saying, “I just need a break.” They chose to lose their goods in order to save their lives but at what cost? Imagine the valuable things they lost. Those ships didn’t just carry ordinary goods; some transported gold. Real gold not the kind sitting in your jewellery box! 😂 They turned to a fleshly, impulsive solution—thinking, If we cut this off, we’ll be fine. And we do the same. We throw away our most precious possessions, like the Word of God, and rely on a fleshly plan to fix a spiritual problem. But you will lose.

This storm was not by chance. It wasn’t random. It was a spiritually orchestrated plan to correct a man’s disobedience. But instead of recognising this, the men on the ship went through a terrifying experience. Let me say this, you could be in a storm not because of your own actions, but because of who you’re connected to. If your spouse is disobedient to God, you will feel the impact too. These sailors had absolutely nothing to do with Jonah’s disobedience. They had no idea what was happening, yet they suffered heavy losses simply because they were in the same boat with him.

Check who’s around you. Check their lifestyle. Their decisions could be affecting you. Don’t lose your cargo over a storm that isn’t yours. God may be dealing with a disobedient person in your midst, and unfortunately, the wind is hitting you too. Actually, you could be the disobedient person responsible for the storm happening in your family. You may have thought, I’m the sailor in the story, no, you could be the Jonah.

In any case , Don’t lose your cargo.

Happy Monday, my Yielded Family! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

This week, we’re starting a new blog series: Going Through the Storms of Life so tell a friend to tell a friend! Earlier this morning, a friend and I were having a deep conversation about how both God and the enemy use people. We are lifted through people, and we are cast down through people. That’s why every act of kindness matters. When you do good to someone, you are participating in God’s plan to bless them. And remember, blessings aren’t always financial. Sometimes, they come in the form of a shared link, a word of encouragement, or a simple check-in—because these days, many who seem okay are silently battling thoughts of despair or even contemplating suicide. Okay, let’s go!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

Isaiah 43:2

What is a storm?  
Let’s read through a google definition. 

A storm, in both the natural and spiritual sense, is a period of turbulence, challenge, or adversity. It says a period – meaning there’s a length of time involved. A time of chaos. A time is disturbance. A time of unpredictable movement and change. A time of unrest and a threat to peace. Phew😅 . Does this sound like something you are or have gone through?

I love that it says turbulence exists in both the natural and the spiritual because, after studying the Word, here’s my take on it: Storms begin in the spiritual realm and manifest in the natural realm. Life is spiritual, which means that everything we see happening in the natural is simply a reflection of what is taking place in the spirit. So no, it’s not just turbulence caused by a difficult boss or an unexpected challenge, it’s a storm in the spiritual realm directly affecting your life in one way or another. Recognizing this helps us respond not just with frustration, but with prayer, discernment, and faith.

Are you facing turbulence or a challenge that feels overwhelming? Have you been through something similar before? You are not without help , you may, however, be without understanding. And it is understanding that helps us navigate through life’s storms. In nature, a storm is a disturbance in the atmosphere, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, or even snow. It disrupts normal conditions and, at times, causes destruction. Does this sound like what’s happening in your life right now? Stay with this series—let’s figure it out together.

Who Does the Storm Affect?

The simple answer? Everyone.

Everyone has experienced a bad weather day—both in the natural and emotionally. This should remind you that you are not alone in your struggles. This is not to downplay what you feel or what you’re going through, but to help you see that storms don’t discriminate.
Rachel will face it, and so will Hannah. The disciples faced it, and so did Jonah. So when the thought, “I’m the only one,” creeps in, know this: you’re not. The enemy wants you to feel isolated so that you lose hope and give up. But the truth is, storms are not random. They often announce a time of testing or spiritual warfare. The key is not to avoid the storm, but to be spiritually ready to go through it.

In life, a storm represents trials, hardships, and difficult seasons that test our faith, strength, and endurance. These storms can come in many forms, financial struggles, sickness, loss, betrayal, or spiritual warfare. Just like natural storms, they can shake us, but they also have the power to deepen our dependence on God, refine our character, and prepare us for greater things. This is the one believers DO NOT WANT TO HEAR. Well, l don’t too because ehhh who wants to sofffer?! Nobody! I wouldn’t even volunteer for it 😂 and I know you wouldn’t too.

As we lay the foundation for this topic, grab your lunchbox and pack this takeaway: storms are coming, but not every day is a stormy day. So, no need to walk around in a raincoat 24/7, some days are bright and sunny! Wear your shades! Izaza nje. Storms announce turbulence in the spirit, and if you try to calm a spiritual storm using natural means, you’re not just wasting your time, you’re wasting your energy.

And remember, storms happen to everyone. You may not be in one right now, but take notes, you’ll need them later (because the time of turbulence will come). Tomorrow, we’ll dive into the stories of people in the Bible who went through storms.
Be digesting what you read today.

I love you!❤️

Oh yes, you read that right! We’re switching things up !!! I switch mzalwane! Chilled Thursdays are leveling up to Special Edition Thursdays!

Starting this March, every Thursday will feature kingdom voices from different parts of the world. Mos you used to buy magazines , now all you have to do is check out the yielded blog. I hope you’re as excited as I am because honestly, I can’t wait!

If I were you, I’d have The Yielded Blogs saved to my Home Screen, wake up, tap in, and be blessed!Got someone in mind you’d love to see here? Drop a comment and then pray on it with me! Who knows? God might just make it happen! Let’s goooo🌸

“Increase is coming, so enlarge your tent and add extensions to your dwelling. Hold nothing back! Make the tent ropes longer and the pegs stronger.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬