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My brother lives in the Ottawa Valley, by a lake nicknamed the Lake of Storms. Often choppy, the wind can whip the water into high waves and whitecaps quickly. All wise boaters know when to go ashore! This pales, though, in comparison to storms at sea.
"Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 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." (Psalm 107:23-25,28-30 NIV)
Storms rage in our lives, be they physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial, stemming from relationships -- or pandemics. Do we look at such unsettled times and assume that God is judging us or punishing us for something, like forgetting to pray that morning, or that He forgot to protect us that day? How human it is to stare with fear at high winds and waves, forgetting that He is a God of love and goodness, and that He will always rescue us.
Physical storms here on earth have no effect on heaven! Because Jesus knew that the Father was watching over Him, He was able to sleep on a boat in a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples, some of them experienced fishermen, saw it differently: the storm was too dangerous; Jesus' power over nature was limited; and He didn't really care about them. Yet they had seen Him perform mighty miracles! The real basis of our faith is a trusting relationship with God. Miracles are wonderful to see, but a real heart change comes when we see God for who He is: the One who rules the storm and saves lives.
Jesus came to atone for our sin, so that by repentance, we can live a new life. When we believe in Him, it's easier to hope in the midst of the storm, when all light is gone, and the miracles are forgotten. Our God is able to calm any tempest, but the storms of the heart are harder to ease. We may get sprayed and lose our balance, but the biggest danger is to jump ship and try to swim alone to shore. God is with us in the storm, and He will carry us through, so don't abandon ship!
"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6 – NIV)
Prayer: Lord, give us believing and trusting hearts, our eyes ever fixed on You in faith during the storms of life. May we rest in peace and security, knowing that You always guide us home. Amen.
Shirley Moulton
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Reprinted from the PresbyCan Daily Devotional with the author's permission
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