Quelling the storm

If you're anything like me maybe you enjoy sitting in a warm house watching a blizzard outside -- coating the world in layer upon layer of white. Or maybe you love the way lightening flares up the sky, the boom of thunder and the sound of a billion splashes of rain against the roof. Or perhaps you like knowing you are safely inside when howling winds batter the siding of your house. Storms are great to watch, aren't they? It's fun to sit there and watch the majesty of God on display.... but storms are not quite as enjoyable when we get stuck in them. Who among us likes getting stuck in that beautiful blizzard... the wind clipping your face, while thousands of snowflakes blind you... or drowning in the rain just as you are half-way to a meeting in your best suit... or trying to walk home in the face of an onslaught of wind, as dust gets in your eye... yes, storms are beautiful when observed at a sheltered distance, but less fun when you are among the things being pummelled.

So let me ask you: how do you handle storms in your life?

Are you more likely to sit and watch it happen -- safe and secure in the knowledge you don't have to go outside?

Or are you the type that thinks you can handle the storm -- and the mess that comes with it -- on your own? Do you think yourself fearless... able to battle back against the elements?

I'm probably a bit of the latter -- to tell you the truth, I have often embraced doing things on my own versus asking someone for help. Frankly, until the last couple months, asking God for help would have seemed so silly to me... I claimed to have abiding faith, and yet when faced with some of my biggest issues or challenges, I relied on my own strength to get me by.

While reading the Book of John recently, I was struck by the idea of storms and the idea of how the strength of God can be used to conquer ANY of them:

John 6:16-21: "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading".

Those verses stood out to me because I can relate -- as I am sure each of you can relate -- to the disciples. Going about our lives in calm waters, doing what we always do... mapping out a goal and moving towards it... then getting caught in a storm, not sure of what to do but paddling like crazy in the hopes you don't capsize.

That's what the disciples are doing.

Can't you see them, a band of men struggling to right the boat in the midst of churning waters and gale-force winds? Peter is yelling at Andrew to paddle harder? John's paddle just broke from the sheer force of the waves... James' calloused hands are torn and bleeding from trying to hold the sails into place... a scene of chaos... and then, when things can't look any worse, they see some guy walking towards their boat... Jesus! But, like us when faced with the help God offers, we need reassurance, don't we? When the force of the winds, the slap of the waves, the bleeding of the callouses on our hands hurt so bad, we can become confused... frightened... unsure whether to let anybody into the boat... but watch what happens... "But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading".

We tend to do the same thing when we are in a storm: Demand God prove himself to us before we allow him to set foot in our boat to right the ship. But look what happens when we do... "... immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading". This verse doesn't say that after Jesus got in the boat, the storm knocked them around a few more hours... no... it says they IMMEDIATELY reached their destination.

We need to start asking God to get into the boat without questioning Him about who is He, what He will do and where He will take us -- when we do this, we can be assured that we will get to the best destination imaginable: HIS destination. The waters may still be choppy from time to time, but we'll get there and be the better for it with Him in the boat.

It is worth saying that storms in your life aren't always big and noticeable -- storms can also be the small ones as well... maybe it's a debate between yourself and your spouse about whether you want to get a dog... or perhaps you lent a friend $5 dollars and haven't been paid back... or maybe it's somebody who cut you off in traffic... whatever it is, sometimes these little gusts of wind can turn into a bigger storm if we proceed to row our boat without thought. That is why it is so vitally important that we have a seat in the boat for God at all times and we stop peppering Him with questions before letting Him take His rightful place at in the captain's chair.

Let Him quell the storms in your life -- ask Him into your boat. You'll not only reach the right desination, but you'll do so without getting alot of sand and rain in your eyes.