As I am writing this blog, Northern Florida is experiencing a Tornado Warning.  The rain is falling steadily, the thunder roars, and the lightning flashes.  Looking at the physical size and strength of the storm, there is a sense of danger and anxiety in the air.  Like myself, I am sure many people are praying for the safety of themselves, their loved ones, their homes, and even their pets.  Others may be worried about all of these things, instead of trusting God to take care of them.  While no one knows how much damage the storm may cause, worry will not make it go away.  Worry will only make it seem more threatening and more brutal.  Instead of worrying about each drop of rain, each clap of thunder, and each bolt of lightning, we need to put our complete trust in the One who provides a shelter from the storm.  Jesus Christ is the Calm in the storm.

Have you ever experienced a really severe storm?  Perhaps you have somewhat unpleasant memories of a time when you stood, huddled with your family in the smallest room of your house, waiting for a hurricane to pass.  Or maybe you can recall a time when you sought protection from a tornado in a basement or other safety shelter.  Or you might be enduring a storm right at this very moment, one void of rain and wind, void of thunder and lightning.  You may be experiencing a storm of greater magnitude than the most relentless storm ever recorded in history.  Only the storm you’re going through is not likely going to be featured on the evening news.  It may be a financial storm, an emotional storm, a mental storm, or even a storm relating to the physical condition of your body.  But whether or not the storm you are in is literal or figurative, it is still a storm.  It is a storm that can cause damage, whether to your home or your mind, body, and soul.  And surely, either type of storm could harm your family and friends.  You may think, is there any way out?  Will the storm ever end?  Yes.  If you call on the precious name of Jesus, the storm will cease.  He will bring you calm in the midst of the storm.

In life, we often experience storms beyond our control.  We are powerless when it comes to extinguishing a tornado or melting hail before it falls from the heavens.  We cannot prevent someone from being diagnosed with cancer, nor do we have the ability to keep other trials from coming upon us.  Thankfully, though, our Heavenly Father is not powerless.  He is all-powerful.  The Psalmist David wrote, “Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding” (Psalm 148:7-8 NIV).  While we cannot stop the storm clouds from gathering overhead, there is One who controls the universe.  Everything must obey Him, including the “lightning and hail, snow and clouds, [and] stormy winds.”  Jesus loves you, and He wants you to live a life of peace and happiness, not a life of turmoil and distress.  He does not desire for any of His children to endure the storms of life, but He wants us to fully trust Him to take care of us when these storms arise.  We need to give our worries and cares to Jesus.  We need to truly rest in Him, unwilling to let the storms of life toss us to and fro.  We need to have faith that He will protect us from all harm.

Jesus’ disciples learned this lesson when they were with Jesus upon the sea.  Mark 4:37-41 (NIV) gives a recount of what happened: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?’  They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him!’”  You see, Jesus knew a storm was approaching, yet He had complete assurance that God would protect Him.  As such, He decided to get some much-needed rest.  The disciples, on the other hand, were worried that the ship would sink.  When Jesus saw the troubled looks on their faces, He simply states, “‘Quiet! Be still!’”  Immediately, the winds ceased and the sea became calm.  He was the calm in the storm.

We need to take Jesus’ example to heart.  When the storms come, we need to put our faith in God and rest in Him.  We need to trust that He will keep us safe, despite the things that may be going on around us.  No matter what is going on, God is right beside you.  He is with you during an earthquake or a thunderstorm, and He is with you in a hospital room or in a nursing home.  God is everywhere.  He is a refuge from the storm that you can always run to.  David said, “‘I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm’” (Psalm 55:8 NIV).  When the storms of life are raging, we have a shelter in which we can hide.  God is our shelter.  He will bring us through any storm, any trial, and any situation we encounter along life’s journey.  Although the rain may fall and the lightning may flash, we have a Heavenly Father who wants to comfort us and reassure us that, yes, everything will be alright.  The storm will pass.  A rainbow will appear.  Rest in His arms today.  Rest in His arms today.  Let Jesus be your Calm in the storm.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer