I look at how Jesus handled storms... before He quieted them...
He walked on the waves... stirred up by the wind...
...the boat by this time was a long way from the land,
beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them,
walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:24-25 ESV
He slept quietly... as the boat filled... with the raging sea...
...the waves were breaking
into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.
Mark 4:37-38 ESV
How do I translate this to my life...? and the handling of storms... both large and small...?
Walk with Jesus... atop the waves... eyes fixed on Him alone... giving no thought to the wind... whipping... raging...
Rest... quietly... trusting Him... the One who knew the storm's approach... knows how long it will last... and to what end...
Each storm... an opportunity to know Him better... a moment to exercise... faith...
And saying this is all well and good... when you're not currently in the midst of a storm... your own personal hurricane... but I know some who are...
The report of a new squall rising... prompts these thoughts to be written...
The Word... it says... consider Jesus... examine His life... so we don't lose heart... grow weary...
He faced some storms... one ultimately killed Him... yet He was sinless... and loved by His Father...
We too... who follow Him... are loved by the Father... and because of Jesus... are justified before God... dare I say sinless...?
So why... would we expect not to face storms... or believe storms come only because of sin... or God's lack of concern... and love...
We are His workmanship... His poem...
The storms He allows are no surprise to Him... He's allowed them... to shape us into the work of art He has in mind... just like His Son...
Now, Jesus... He struggled with the final storm... sweat blood... over it's coming... but in the end... He chose to trust the work of His Father... and say... Your will be done...
If you're facing a storm today... or see one forming on the horizon... go to your Garden of Gethsemane... bring it to your Father... wrestle with Him... and come to the point... of surrendering it all to Him... fix your eyes on Him... and rest... as best you can... telling yourself...
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5
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