Storms of Life
We are all going to face storms in this life. No one is exempt to facing storms. It may seem like it, but no one will exit their life not having experienced a storm.
When I was 9 years old we moved to Liberia, West Africa. My dad worked for Firestone Tire Company and we lived on the rubber plantation that processed latex, which then created tires that are on so many vehicles today. Storms in Africa were legitimately terrifying. When I say thunder and lightning storm, I don’t mean the cute little thunder that we get here in the Pacific Northwest and occasional lightning that we see out of the corner of our eye. I mean thunder that you feel in the depths of your chest and darkness that when your hand is held to your face, you see nothing. Lightning that both illuminates and brings terror all at the same time. These types of thunder and lightning storms will have you recognizing that the Creator of Heaven and Earth is no One to mess with… A holy reverent fear will sweep over you.
Storms both natural and personal are impossible to bypass.
I was reflecting on the sky the other night after a storm rolled through. The spring thunderstorms are starting to roll in and produce such a magnificent beauty. But at the beginning of the storm, there is a heavy darkness that begins to loom and make its way across the sky. The anticipation of what will take place when the storm is overhead and release its fury can feel unsettling.
When we are in the midst of a storm we can have a difficult time knowing and remembering that EVERY storm comes to an end. Every storm passes. And when the storm does pass, the sky will produce colors of beauty. Life will also emerge from the shadows of its protective covering. However, in the storm we can feel helpless because we can’t see the light that is to come or know when it’s coming.
I can’t help but think of the time Jesus calmed a storm to demonstrate the power He has over both the physical and spiritual world:
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. - Luke 8:22-25
Storms are going to cross your path in this life. Some storms may be small while others will feel like a tsunami wave crashing all around you. It could be a loss of a job, death of a loved one, a diagnosis, rejection of some sort or other. Whatever it is, the tidal wave will feel massive. But there’s a question waiting for us to answer. Where is your faith? Who are we going to choose to place our faith in when the storms of this life crash in all around us.
My NIV Life Application Study Bible notes puts it like this: When caught in the storms of life, it is easy to think that God has lost control and that we’re at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is sovereign. He controls the history of the world as well as our personal destinies. Just as Jesus calmed the waves, He can calm whatever storms you may face.
Faith is a beautiful thing to talk about and discuss with friends. It’s a pretty word that we put on t-shirts and sing about at church. But if faith is never tested, if it’s never refined, if it never has the opportunity to be used, it isn’t faith. It’s just a word.
When our faith is put to the test it provides us with an incredible opportunity to put our faith into action and show the world Who it is we place our faith IN. It provides the world with an opportunity to see Jesus in a whole new light. When our faith is tested it shows the sovereignty of God. The One who holds us and carries us through the storms of life. Faith without action is dead. When faith is tested it is an incredible moment to watch God be GOD and be in the rightful place we always speak of Him being in.
We’re all going to face storms in this life. No one is exempt to facing storms. The question remains: Where are you going to place your faith? In the circumstances that crash around you? Or in the One who can rebuke the winds, raging waters, and calm the storms?
