Steady through the storm

Peace is not the absence of storms. It is the ability to remain steady, even in the midst of the storm.

            Storms happen.

            Some storms last just a few minutes and leave nothing more than a few broken branches and a sprinkling of rain. Others rip through, suddenly, unexpectedly, leaving a trail of shattered remains in their wake.

            Jesus’ disciples experienced such a storm ( Luke 8:22-25). A storm that was life-changing, not because of its intensity, (although it was so fierce that they feared for their lives), but because of its lasting impact on their minds and souls.

            Most of us have read this narrative so many times, that we barely feel the fear that gripped the disciples. Luke calls it a “fierce gale” that whipped the lake into a froth of waves so tall and ominous, that the boat and all its occupants were overwhelmed.

            That’s quite a storm! If you’ve lived through a tornado or a hurricane, you’ll have a good idea what kind of thoughts were going through their minds.

            “We’re going to die! We’re all going to die!”

            “There goes my supper, right over the side of the boat.”

            “Wish I’d taken out a better life insurance policy!”

            And to top it off, Jesus was peacefully snoozing in one corner of the boat. 
            Can you imagine huddling together in a storm shelter, shaking with fear and wondering if you’ll survive this tornado, only to discover Dad napping it out in some far corner, snoring like he’s enjoying a Sunday afternoon nap on the couch?

            I don’t know about you, but that would really get my blood roiling. I mean, if your life is about to be snuffed out, wouldn’t you expect some sympathy? Or at least a little concern?

            I’m sure you’ve been through experiences like this in your own personal life. Times when you feel like you’ve been dumped in a blender and those sharp, steel blades are cutting deeply into everything you hold near and dear.

            I’m enduring one of those storms right now. Maybe not life-threatening, but’s it’s tugging really hard at the anchor of my faith. Waves of sickness, family concerns, school issues, financial strains, discouragement. The storm doesn’t seem to let up much before another monstrous wave slams me to the bottom of the boat, leaving me hurt and fearful. Some days, I can’t even tell if the wet on my cheeks is from the spray of the waves or tears that won’t stop flowing.

            So where’s God in all of this? Right now, it seems like he’s napping while I’m trying to keep from drowning. I want to yell, “Master, Master, I am perishing.” But I don’t because I know that He knows what I am going through, even though He’s chosen to remain silent. He’s not worried in the least, because He knows the final outcome. He knows that, when the time is right, He’ll stand up and command the waves to stop. And He knows that I will come through it all with a stronger, deeper faith in the One who was with me all along.

            I know this because I’ve seen Him do it so many times in the past. And the same God who got me safely to the other shore in days gone by will see me safely through this current storm. He fills me with His peace, despite the gale-force wind that is rocking my life. A peace that transcends all circumstances. A peace that keeps me steady even through the turbulence of life.

About the author:

I am the daughter of TEAM missionaries (The Evangelical Alliance Mission). I was raised in France, attended French schools, obtained my French Baccalaureate then attended Emmaus Bible College in Switzerland, where I graduated with a degree in Bible and Theology.

I now live in the Missouri Ozarks with my husband Len and my three sons, one of whom has been diagnosed with Asperger’s.

I am a member of the Ozarks’ Chapter of American Christian Writers and a founding member of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild.