Thought for the Day

Through The Storm
Courtesy of Steve Roll, Restoration Ministries

“And being aroused, Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down, and it became perfectly calm.” Mark 4:39

July 18, 2012

Storms.

Residing in Oklahoma for more than twenty years, the Roll family is well acquainted with natural storms. Frequent storms. Huge storms. Monster storms. Tulsa, being the center of Tornado Alley, has experienced EF3’s, 4’s and one EF5 that jumped over the city since we have called Tulsa home. One spring evening, we had a F1 tornado touch down less than one mile from our house! Hair-raising to say the least.

I remember well our first storm. Having been in Tulsa only a month, an ominous, foreboding, blackish/greenish, demonic looking, swirling wall cloud hovered over our neighborhood. Curious, I ran outside to check it out. It was awesome, and scary. My spirit man was screaming at me “Thou fool!” Jo Ann thought I had a screw loose or something, and hollered at me to come inside and take cover. I obeyed. We rode out the storm safely.

Natural storms can come up suddenly, do damage, and alter life. In Oklahoma, surviving, getting through storms is success.

Life storms seem to pop up from nowhere too. Spiritual battles, relational difficulties, financial challenges, illness, accidents, loss…life storms rake across the landscape of our lives. Life storms affect all of us. There is no such thing as a storm free life.

Observations About Life Storms

• Life storms appear suddenly, with little prior warning.
• Life storms look scary.
• Life storms tempt us to panic.
• Life storms test our faith.
• Life storms reveal our faith.
• Life storms stretch our faith.
• Life storms try to steal our faith.
• Life storms feel like they will last forever.
• Life storms have a short shelf-life. A limited life span.
• Life storms are meant to be passed through.
• Life storms strengthen our faith.
• Passing through a life storm successfully prepares and equips us for the next storm.

In our word for this week, recorded in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus and His followers experienced two storms. First, a natural storm on the lake. Secondly, a life storm in their heart, a faith storm, a test of their trust in God to see them through a life-threatening storm.

As the sea rose, filling the boat, Jesus slept. The disciples panicked. Thinking they were perishing, Peter woke the Lord up. Jesus, got up, rebuked the storm, and then rebuked the disciples. He chastised them for having “no faith”. The Lord expected His followers to exercise their faith to calm the storm while He slept crossing the lake.

The disciples didn’t get through the storm very well. Jesus stilled the storm for them, saving the day. Here are a few thoughts from this scenario on the Sea of Galilee.

• It was not God’s will for the ship to sink. He didn’t send Jesus and the disciples across the lake to drown.
• Jesus slept like a baby on a pillow, while the disciples worried about the wind and waves.
• Jesus could sleep through the storm because He trusted in His heavenly Father.
• The disciples had a panic attack because they didn’t trust in God.
• Jesus was full of faith. His followers were full of fear.
• The plan was for Jesus and his shipmates to cross the lake, pass through the storm, and preach the Good News to people waiting on the other side.

How To Survive, And Yes Thrive, through Life Storms

Contrary winds will blow. Unwelcome waves will crash. Our life boats will fill up with water from time to time.

If you are going through a life storm right now, hold on to your faith. Faith in Jesus stills storms. Keep your focus on Jesus who is with you in the storm. Don’t push the panic button…..Jesus is on board.

Faith takes us through the storms of life. Boldly rebuke your storm in Jesus’ name. Watch the wind die down and the storm cease. Rejoice in calm life again.

Life storms will pass through. So pass through your storms victoriously in the name of life’s storm stiller, Jesus.

“For momentary, light affliction (life storms) is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

II Corinthians 4:17-18