Standing in the storm

By Betsy Burnett

Have you ever gotten news that just seems to paralyze you? Life has taken some unexpected twists and turns as of late. Sadly the “biggest” piece of news also happened to be the worst! When I sit and dwell on what I was told I not only start to worry, but my heart becomes overcome with feat to the point I simply can’t function.

Jesus’ disciples knew exactly how I felt. Only their “news” wasn’t news. It was a horrible storm. A “furious squall” the waves were coming so high and so fast the boat was taking on water and quickly. Now you would think everyone would be frantically trying to bail out the boat. Not so. Jesus not only didn’t help them “bail out the boat” but he was so calm in the midst of the chaos he was SLEEPING. (Mark 4: 35-41.)

Another time. Jesus sent the disciples on ahead in the boat while He went to pray. Shortly before morning He went to join them by walking on water! The disciples were kinda freaked out by this thinking maybe it was a ghost. Peter struck up enough courage to ask “Lord if this is you tell me to come to you on the water” and Jesus said “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, but he saw the wind and got scared and started to sink. Jesus then grabbed his hand and asked him “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:22-33)

It’s easy for us to get swallowed up and over come with fear by the storms of life that surround us. We only see in part, we only know in part. We can have confidence in one thing though. The God that made the universe has the very hairs of our head numbered. He cares of us more than the sparrows, (Luke 12: 6-) He has each day ordained for us before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16) This is the same God that stores our very tears in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8) He never promised us that things would be easy. (John 16:33) He did promise us that He would never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) When those fears attempt to overtake us, we simply have the job to “Be still and know He is God.” (Psalm 46:10)

It’s in the stillness we can experience his calming presence. It’s in that stillness we can hear his voice “fear not, I am with you.” (Psalm 41:10) “I have over come the world” (John 16: 33) For when we focus on Jesus, the storm around us can rage on and we will still be able to stand.