In the Storm

On Lake Michigan, the storm created ocean-like waves. 

They surged toward the beach and washed the land. A man, we met by the lighthouse, jumped in the waves and rode his paddle board to shore. 

Rather than fear the waves, he plunged in. 

I'm not sure I would take on a challenge like that, but I have learned to ride out the storms of life with Jesus by my side. 

He gives me confidence and hope for better days.

 

Where Is My Faith

Luke 8:22-24
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

Rain pounded the canvas top of the Jeep.

I traveled down Interstate 75 to visit my daughter in Kentucky. When I left home a gray sky hovered overhead. The lack of sunshine made the drive easier for me because bright sun hurts my eyes, and I knew I’d be on the road for a while. About halfway through the trip, the skies opened and the rain poured. Torrential rain on the interstate with semis scares me, but instead of panicking, I put the Jeep in four-wheel drive and slowed my speed.

The rain poured for about twenty minutes. As I maneuvered the Jeep through the rain, Star 93.3 played three songs that calmed me. I Am Not Alone by Kari Jobe, Praise You in This Storm, and Brighter Days by Blessing Offor made me want to raise my hands in praise, but I didn’t dare take my hands off the wheel.

Isn’t it just like Jesus to provide comfort and hope in the midst of the storm? He’d invited his disciples to the boat and then fell asleep. He may have known the storm was coming, but He also knew God had His back. When the disciples panicked, what did He say? “Where is your faith?”

I had to ask myself that question as I drove through the storm. I have to ask myself that question when I walk through the valley, the sunshine, or the fog. My faith is in Jesus who loves me, but at times I forget and try to take control, or panic, or run from Him. Yet every time He draws me back to Him, and I thank Him.

I thank God for his peace, His understanding of me and my fears, and I praise Him for his plan of salvation that secures my faith. I am not alone, I can praise Him in the storms, and I know there will be brighter days because I have faith in the One who loves me more than I understand.

Have faith in the One who loves you.

He Stills the Storm

Psalm 107:28-31
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

We witnessed the remnants of Hurricane Gordon as the winds and rain carried through Northern Ohio. The high waves on Lake Erie threw water and rocks on the road in front of Lake Point Hotel, where we stayed. Down the road, the tide swelled around the foot of Marblehead Lighthouse as it splashed over the huge rock barrier.

Later, from our hotel room we listened to the crashing and splashing as it echoed through the night. The thought of being out on a boat in the stormy waters made me shutter. Yet I found the storm fascinating. The power behind the waves reminded me of the authority of our all powerful God.

Psalm 107 reminds me that God calms storms, whether natures tempest or the day-to-day gales of life. Sometimes, life feels like a hurricane, being hit by wave after wave of disappointment, disaster, or depression. If you feel like you've been in the eye of life's storms, pray. God listens. He loves. He cares. Sometimes the squalls leave debris in their wake. Junk we have to clean up. God offers strength. Sometimes a flood of sadness wraps around our hearts. God comforts. With hope, the sun comes out after the showers pass. That's when we praise God who helped us weather the storm.

No matter what we struggle through, God walks with us. He hushes the sea, he guides us home.

As I'm writing this, Hurricane Florence is striking the east coast. My heart goes out to the people dealing with this disaster. Pray with me and find ways to help our friends in need.

God Loves You

The Rock

Psalm 9:9-10
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
 Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

As I got out of the car, I noticed the dark clouds looming. I'd heard on the radio that a thunderstorm was heading my way. Just after I ducked into a store to shop for bargains, the rain burst from the clouds while lightning and thunder ripped the sky. I was content to be in the shelter of the store as the downpour let loose.

As we live on this old earth, we face a lot of storms. Personal, spiritual, global. So many negative occurrences happen every day. Bad news, sad events, troubling times. Sometimes I want to crawl in bed and cover my head. But I can't. I have to live in the world. But, instead of hiding in my bed, I find shelter in my God. He's the true refuge, the secure harbor, the safe place to rest my heart. God is the safe haven in the midst of distress. Praise God for always being the rock in the storm.

Where is your Faith?

Luke 8:22-25
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Tim and I traveled to the Cleveland area over Memorial Day weekend. On Tuesday, our daughter would be having surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. As we eased into the week with prayer and time reflecting on God's creation, we grabbed some sandwiches and settled into a picnic table by Lake Erie. The water stretched before us much like an ocean; where we couldn't see land on the other side. A few boats bounced along the water. The seagulls squawked. In the distance we saw what the gulls were excited about. A storm with a wall of rain was crawling across the lake. The water turned a deep, dark blue and the temperature dropped about ten degrees. Thunder rumbled and the wind kicked up and lifted the waves. The storm was heading our way. We watched for a while, mesmerized by God's power. The whole scene gave me cold chills. Yet I knew I was safe. Jesus was with us, just as he'd be with our daughter in surgery.

I believe in the power of prayer and the amazing power of God. But, like the disciples I had to find out about that power through experience. The disciples didn't know Jesus well enough to understand that he could speak to the storm and it would obey. They hadn't seen his amazing powers and the miracles he would perform. But in time they would. Like them, I had to spend time with Jesus through prayer and learn about him through the Bible. Every day I get to know him a little bit better. Praise God for Jesus!

P.S. Surgery went well!