Storm

I have never been a person who fears a storm. I can remember as a young kid standing the in the front yard of our house and looking up through the valley as a tornado touched down several miles away. I sometimes like to stand on my front porch now in the storm. I realize that there is some risk in doing that, but I’m amazed at the power of a strong storm.

I love the story of Jesus and how He handled a storm. Check this out….

²³ Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.²⁴ Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

²⁷ The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”(Matthew 8:23-27 NLT)

I was imagining that the boat must have been nice and big for Jesus to be sleeping through such a storm or He was quietly testing their faith when He was right there with them.

I look at storms way differently when the Presence of God is in me. He calms my fears. He doesn’t always calm the storm I’m in. His Presence changes my perspective of the storm. He can teach me in the storm. There are lessons that I’ve learned in the middle of a storm that I’m not sure I would have learned any other way.

I was reminded of the song by Casting Crowns – “I Will Praise You In The Storm”

… But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I’ll raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

… And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

… I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
(I lift my eyes unto the hills)
(Where does my help come from?)

When I have the Presence of God in me, my perspective on the storm changes dramatically. I can have peace in my soul even when my surroundings are crazy. With the Presence of God in me, I have direction even when I can’t see in any direction.  I want my faith to be obvious in the storm or even when there is no storm at all.

Pressing On!

Dwayne