Storms

The only time I’ve ever been on a boat of any kind was when we were in Dubai – probably about 22 years ago. It was a company event, and we were taken out to sea to watch the powerboat race. Unfortunately, though, the only thing I saw the entire day was the inside of a large pack of barf bags and a napkin holder that slid mesmerizingly from one side of the dining area floor to the other!! The waves apparently were 8 to 10 feet that day.

After a couple of hours of a tossing boat and throwing up, I was certain we were all going to die!! Between gulps of air and throwing up, I was sending emergency prayers up to the throne. “Help, dear God!” And then after a couple more hours of the endless waves, the prayers became promises. “If You get me back to dry land dear Jesus, I promise I’ll be the best Christian ever/I’ll never ever sin/I’ll love my enemies/I’ll be the best wife & mother/I’ll never ask you for anything ever again…!!”

And finally, after many more such panicked promises, we docked and I staggered out, looking miserable and ragged. It truly was 6 hours of pure misery!

My Bible reading the other day was about the great storm when Jesus was sleeping in the boat. Now I’ve always wondered why the disciples were afraid of a little storm. They were fishermen after all! But I did a little research on storms in the Sea of Galilee and learned that because of its geographical position, in a matter of minutes, gusts of wind will transform the smooth surface of the calm water into a seething and roaring cauldron. And, of course, their boats were small, wooden fishing vessels.

Such a life lesson, friends! When the storms of life suddenly hit us, we too totally panic. And just like the disciples we also say, “Lord, are you sleeping? Do you not care we are perishing?” Fear and panic are very human responses have been my default buttons for most of my life.

I know no one is exempt from trials, and I haven’t found any answers in all these years as to the “whys”! But one thing I’ve learned through my storms is that it will bring us to a deeper knowledge of our God and enrich our relationship with Him – IF we allow Him to do so.

Yes, storms seem never-ending and yes, we get battle-weary. But take a moment to breathe and ask the Lord to open your eyes to see more of Him. Because one day, this trial is going to be your testimony!

When the storms of life come, the question is not if we will get through it or not! We will definitely get through it because we serve a Faithful God. The question though is “how”?

For that we need to allow the sounds and fury of the storm to be stilled by the truth that the Master of the Universe is in our tiny boat of life. And allow His words, from 2000+ years ago, saying “Peace be still”, *guard your heart and mind. If not, when it’s all over, we’ll probably just stagger out, miserable and ragged, like I did all those many years ago.   

PS. Sadly, I failed at every extravagant promise I made the Lord on that boat!! 🙁 Life lesson #2!! 🙂

*Philippians 4: 6 & 7