Storms

In the Word of God, there are several examples of storms. Examples such as the Lord building a boat (through Noah), the Lord sleeping in a boat, or walking on the water and calling someone out of the boat. The Lord provided protection from the rising waters, keeping them from taking over when the rains came. I can attest to how quickly floodwaters can rise, having stood in a house that was surrounded by water just a year ago. The mass strength of rushing waters. This is cause for concern and a need for a way out. When the storms come, we always want a way out, don’t we? 

When our Lord and Savior was sleeping in the boat, and the storm began to rage all around, those who were in the boat began to panic. Saying “don’t you care. “ 

The Lord was steadfast and calm, even in the storm, to the point of sleep! They had the Lord right there with them, and yet panic ensued. Don’t we do the same thing? I will never leave you nor forsake you, says the Lord. I think we often look for him outside the storm, when he is standing right beside us in it. He tells us that in him we will have peace. That in this world we will have trouble. But we are to take heart! For He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

He doesn’t say that we won’t endure storms in life, aka problems, trials, hardships, and struggles. Actually, he tells us that there will be trials of many kinds. Difficulties are a part of life. But it is He that the Lord wants us to reach for. Not our own solutions, not another person, or even to remove the storm, because it is in the storm that we gain perspective in our faith.  James 1:3-4 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Just like Peter, who had faith and believed Christ to be Lord, but when the storm came, he wavered. So what did Jesus do? He calls Peter out onto the water right in the middle of it! Because Christ is building the boat of protection, He is in the boat, ready to speak to the storm from within, and He is out on the water, calling you to step into it and into a deeper faith.  He will go through it with us. I pray that this day, if you, too, are “in the storm,” that you will keep your eyes on Christ. Build the boat, stay calm in the storm, even get out of the boat and onto the water with HIm in the midst of it, Amen!