I hate storms... most of the time. They are creepy. However, every now and then, I can see past their creepiness and be reminded how amazing they are. They are a reminder to me just how powerful God is. There’s so many different kinds of storms I’m not even going to mention, but they all reflect God’s awesomeness and power. Rain Storms can range from a light sprinkling of rain that’s gentle enough to water the seedlings to a treacherous typhoon that knocks whole cities out with one swoop. What a reflection of God! This is how He wants us to view Him- Gentle and loving, yet powerful.
The hard reality of life, is that storms are good for us. The trees, grass, flowers and other plants need the storms. Just like the plants and animals need weather storms to feed them and make them stronger, we need the painful storms in our lives to do the same. We all have to face different storms through the different seasons of our lives. It’s nearly impossible during a storm to think “this is good for me”. Surprisingly though, when our storm passes, we can look back and say “that was hard, but it made me stronger”. We tend to remember the painful storms...forever. They shaped us into who we are today.
During a recent storm in my life (ironically, there was also a storm outside), God reminded me of something precious. I was inside my house, looking out at the rain storm pouring down. I was surrounded by a storm, but I was safe. It gave me a picture of God holding me in His hands, keeping me safe during this storm. He’s promised to never leave me, or forsake me. ( I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5) I’m safe in His hands, despite whatever painful storm may be surrounding me.
There are several storms mentioned in the Bible. Jesus is ALWAYS in control of the storm, whether He’s in it or not. We’re reminded about this in the story of the Maniac of Gadara in the Book of Mark:
Mark 4: 35 - Mark 5: 20
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Chapter 5 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
We can learn a lot from this.
- God is in control of the storm- whether we see His hand or not. The disciples knew God was in the ship with them. Maybe the “out of sight out of mind” concept applied to them, (who knows?). They didn't turn to Jesus for help until it was almost too late. Their ship was so full of water, it was about to sink. Then, and only then did they turn to Jesus for help. Then, and only then did Jesus rebuke the storm- and it ceased. God doesn't want to be our “last resort” to the storms we face. Storms are scary. Storms are hard. He wants us to be clinging to Him the whole time, because really, He’s holding us the whole time.
- God will keep us safe during the storm- even when it’s hard to believe it. Sometimes, we get the mindset that we shouldn't have any storms in our lives because, really, why would a loving, tender, kind God give us storms? Maybe we feel like we've had enough storms in our lives to have an easy rest of our life- really- can we handle one more storm? Maybe we can’t handle another storm, but God can. Remember- He’s in charge of the storms. He controls the storms, and He keeps us safe during the storms. He’s holding onto us.
- God has a reason for the storm- even though we may not understand it. God always sees the whole picture. We only see pieces of it. Jesus knew what was on the other side of the water. Jesus knew there was a man that needed Him. Jesus needed to cross the storm to get to the demon possessed man. At the end of the parable, we read that all men marveled at what God had done. God needs to be so powerful in our lives, that men marvel- not at us, but at how God has been at work in our lives. He should be what people see when they see us.
Storms of life happen. Yes, they are painful. Yes, they are scary. But God is always in control of every storm we face in life. He is holding onto us through the storm, and He has a reason for the storm, even if we don’t see it yet. Someday, we may be able to look at our past storms, and see how God’s hand was moving in our lives, to teach us, to protect us, and to make His power known. Don’t run from the storms God has for us. Trust Him.
