Finding Peace When the Storm Continues | The Branch

"Sometimes we are about the result, and God is about the process." — Pastor Anthony

Pastor Matthew opened this episode of The Branch by admitting something most pastors rarely say out loud. He shared that his Sunday message on comfort and peace felt so personal that he probably should have preached it to himself in the mirror. For about a year, he has felt unsettled in his mind and heart, and he still has not figured out how to feel the peace he knows is available to him as a believer.

Pastor Chris and Pastor Anthony, joining remotely for this episode, sat with that honesty instead of rushing past it. What followed was a conversation about what it actually looks like to trust God when the storm keeps going longer than expected.

Pastor Anthony asked a question that shaped much of the episode. What is the difference between knowing God's promises intellectually and actually relying on them in the middle of hard seasons. Pastor Matthew admitted that he tends to find peace only after the fact, once he can look back and see what God was doing. He said he trusts the outcome, but the process itself is often difficult to grasp because it does not always make logical sense.

Pastor Anthony wondered aloud whether this tension is something that can only be learned through actually going through hard seasons, rather than simply studying scripture well enough to skip the struggle. Pastor Matthew connected this to the story of Jesus calming the storm, admitting that in this season of his life, he feels less like a disciple with unshakable faith and more like the one waking Jesus up in fear.

The three pastors talked through examples from scripture where believers responded to hard circumstances in very different ways. Caleb and Joshua moved forward with confidence even when the rest of Israel was overwhelmed by fear. The psalmists, on the other hand, often poured out raw grief and confusion before landing on trust. Pastor Anthony pointed out that both responses show up in scripture, and both are part of what it means to be human.

Pastor Matthew related this to the stories of Elijah and David, two men who experienced incredible spiritual highs followed by deep despair. He said his own emotions do not usually stop him from being obedient, but they do get in the way of experiencing real joy. Pastor Chris brought up Peter walking on water as another picture of this same tension, showing both the triumph of stepping out in faith and the fear of beginning to sink, with Jesus meeting Peter in both moments.

Much of the conversation centered on the Greek word behind the Holy Spirit's role in John's Gospel, often translated as Comforter, Helper, or Advocate. Pastor Matthew shared that while preparing his message, he noticed how many different English words are used to translate the same term. Rather than being confusing, he found this encouraging, because it showed him the Holy Spirit is not limited to one kind of help. Whatever a person needs in a season of difficulty, the Holy Spirit is able to provide it.

Pastor Anthony added historical context, explaining that in the first century, a similar word described a patron, someone with resources and status who cared for those in need. That picture helped reframe the Holy Spirit's role as something much bigger than simply making someone feel better in the moment.

Pastor Matthew asked a hard question drawn from Philippians, which teaches believers to bring their anxiety to God through prayer with thanksgiving. He wondered how someone can offer authentic thanksgiving while also feeling frustrated or unsettled, without it feeling fake.

Pastor Anthony responded that being human means sometimes feeling pulled in two directions at once, holding both deep belief in God's promises and real emotional struggle. Pastor Chris shared a personal story about driving to a wedding and telling his wife that he felt both deeply thankful and confused about why peace still felt so hard to reach. He said that leading with gratitude, even when emotions do not immediately follow, helps bring a person back to a place of trust.

Pastor Anthony asked what advice they would give to someone who has prayed about a struggle again and again, and still feels anxious. Pastor Chris was honest that he does not have a clean answer, since he experiences the same thing. He explained that when something keeps coming back, it does not mean someone lacks faith or is failing to trust God. It simply means the concern is real and sometimes takes longer to resolve than anyone would like.

Pastor Matthew shared that during this season, he has had to be intentional about healthy rhythms like time with God, good sleep, and not isolating himself. He also talked about the difficulty of being vulnerable with the church and with the elders about how he was really feeling, and how that honesty led to real support rather than the isolation he feared.

Pastor Anthony pointed out that people often want a specific result, while God is more focused on a longer process happening underneath the surface. He explained that sometimes a difficult season is not something God is rushing to end, but something God is using to shape a person or a relationship in ways that only become clear with time.

The group also discussed how surrendering something to God does not mean sitting back and doing nothing. Pastor Chris noted that resistance is not always a sign that a door is closed, and sometimes obedience means continuing to push forward even when the process feels slow or difficult.

Toward the end of the episode, Pastor Anthony explained the difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy feels sorry for someone from a distance, while empathy enters into the difficulty alongside them. He encouraged listeners to move beyond vague offers like telling someone to reach out if they need anything, and instead to proactively check in, pray specifically, and simply show up.

Pastor Chris agreed, sharing that trite answers or quick solutions rarely help. What actually ministers to him during hard seasons is having someone who will listen without rushing to fix things. Pastor Matthew added that support should match the depth of a relationship, and that even small gestures, like a kind note or a listening ear, can mean far more than an attempt to have all the answers.

Each pastor closed the episode by sharing a personal testimony. Pastor Anthony recalled a season years ago when a home building project fell apart, teaching him that his own desires were not in conflict with God's, and that some things worth having require patience and persistence. Pastor Chris shared about a difficult season in his marriage, describing it as being pushed into deeper waters that felt intimidating but also led to deeper intimacy and understanding.

Pastor Matthew shared about a past season he described as a kind of mental break, when confusion and disappointment left him not wanting to be at church or in meetings. He said that season gave him more compassion for people who struggle with anxiety and depression, and it continues to shape how he walks through his current unsettled season with hope, even when he cannot yet feel the peace he knows is available to him.