Life Storms

I love the sound of the rain. It comforts and quiets me. I even love the sound of thunder and the bright flashes of lightening. When the wind blows, I love the way it feels pushing against me. I run into it. I let it tenderly caress my skin. As the storm picks up and becomes violent, though, my pleasure turns to concern. I become distraught in the possibilities of what this could be turning into. I let my fears overtake me. The same can be said of when the storms of life start. At first, I may be able to handle it on my own. As the severity of the issues or the number of them multiply, I become overcome. I become overwhelmed. I need to set my sights on something greater than me.

After the death of his beloved cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus attempts to go off on his own to pray and grieve privately. Instead, the masses follow after him and call to him. In his care and compassion for them, he joins them instead and heals their sick. As night falls, his disciples plan to send the people into the small surrounding villages to find food as all they have is five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus tells them there is no need to send them away and that he will feed them all. He looks to the Heavens and blesses the food and feeds everyone with "twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over" after feeding 5000 men, plus women and children (Matt 14:19-21, NIV).

Finally, Jesus takes the time he'd earlier desired to go off to the mountainside and pray. While he is away, a strong storm is overtaking the disciples who are on a boat in the lake.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples, saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-33)

Walking on Faith by Benjamin McPherson

For how many of us is it hard to see Jesus' work in our lives especially in the midst of a storm? In the midst of our fears? Are we just like Peter? The disciples? A little of both? Peter trusted this was his Messiah, Jesus, and stepped from the boat to meet him in the midst of the storm; yet, as soon as he let go of the belief that he could be doing this--walking on water in the midst of a storm--and began to rely upon himself he began to succumb to the effects of the storm. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, as soon as he stopped believing that ALL THINGS were possible through Him...he fell. We all fall. Even though he fell and we continually fall, STILL Jesus reaches out to him and to us and rescues us from relying upon ourselves. The disciples who had witnessed TONS of miracles including the healing of the sick and the feeding of the masses just hours before Jesus came to them walking on the water, doubted. So, yes. It is hard to believe and understand and trust and keep your eyes on Jesus even when you are a witness to the power and sovereignty He has over all things.

Jesus is where we need to set our sights. We need to look for Him, to seek Him out in all things; He is not just for the storms, but for all things in this life. Be blessed!