God’s Presence: Your Anchor Through Any Storm

by Rick Warren — October 27, 2023
From How God Turns Setbacks into Comebacks

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

No one gets through life without setbacks. All of us will face storms from time to time.

The real issue is how we respond. When you experience a setback, what happens next? Do setbacks dominate you? Do you stop trying and give up?

If we’re not careful, setbacks will cause us to make unhelpful decisions:

  • Drifting from our goals. We hear the little voice inside that asks, “What’s the use of trying?” Then we stop striving for what God has clearly called us to do.

  • Discarding what we value. Sometimes, after a period of intense pain, our priorities change—we let go of what once mattered greatly to us.

  • Despairing about our future. We figure we’re doomed, we’re finished, and it’s all over.

As a pastor for more than 40 years, I watched many people react to crises in one of those three ways. I’ve discovered that the true test of faith is not how high you jump when you’re singing praises to God, but how straight you walk when you’re going through the valley of the shadow of death.

You’ll always drift in a storm without the right anchor. And only one anchor will really do.

One of the Bible’s most famous passages says it like this: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

God’s presence is the greatest anchor in any situation.

When you’re feeling hopeless, remember that God hasn’t left you. Choose to make him your rock-solid anchor.

No matter how dark your valley, you’ve never been closer to God than you are at this exact moment. When I remind people of that truth while they’re in the middle of a setback, they often tell me: “Well, I don’t feel his presence.”

But it really has nothing to do with how you feel. The Bible says God is there in your darkest valley. That’s reality—whether you believe it or not.

The Bible says, “I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us” (Romans 8:38-39 The Message).

No matter what you’re going through, God and his love are right there with you.

That truth offers stability in any storm.

Talk It Over

  • What setbacks in your life have made you doubt God’s presence?

  • Look back at the three ways setbacks can cause us to make unhelpful decisions. Which have you experienced? How did the situation impact you?

  • How does recognizing God’s presence in the midst of setbacks help you get through those difficult times?

Will you follow Jesus today?

God proved his goodness through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).

Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? If so, pray this simple prayer: "Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.