The Storm’s Edge

Driving to work one day this past week I saw a rain storm in the distance.  I was at the edge a storm.  Calm and stormy side by side.  To see the edge of a storm from a distance is a beautiful sight.  To be in a storm is a whole different story. Are you in a storm right now?  One of my former pastor’s used to always say that you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or you are being prepared for a storm.  Welcome to the life as a follower of Jesus Christ. I’m currently in a storm.  Actually, I’m in many on several fronts of my life.  Often times these storms are in our mind.  The mind is powerful and oftentimes these storms hurt very much.  Other times they are very real impacting our closest family and friends in personal and hurtful ways.  In either type of storm, they impact us.  They keep us awake at night, they churn in our guts, and they provide negative thought upon negative thought which can lead to worry, anxiety, fear, despair, and sleepless nights. Jesus slept during a storm.  He literally slept during a severe storm in the stern of a ship (Matthew 8:23-27).  Others on board not as calm.  Chaos, fear, and confusion rule the moment.  Did I mention it was an intense storm?  Like grown men who were professional fisherman were scared for their lives intense storm?  And Jesus slept, full of peace. There was another person who slept during an intense storm.  As the crew tossed cargo overboard to lighten the ship, Jonah slept in the lowest part of the ship (Jonah 1:1-16).  Unlike Jesus, Jonah’s peace was a selfish peace as he was running from his orders from God to minister to the people in Nineveh. Both storms were calmed by God.  The storm Jonah was in stopped when the crew threw Jonah overboard.  The storm Jesus was in stopped when Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea with His words. Are you in a storm?  Are you disobeying the LORD?  Do you need to go Jesus for His intervention?  In both of the mentioned storms above, the people in trouble took the first step. We need to act in faith during our storms.  Repentance might be in order, which requires humbling ourselves and seeking the LORD’s forgiveness.  Maybe we need to turn to Jesus and ask for His wisdom and help.  In both instances, be sure to keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.  He wants to calm the storms in your heart. Make sure you are giving the LORD room to move in your life. Enjoy those rain storms and marvel at the beauty of the edge of a storm.  As we stand at the edge of the storms in our life, let us be bold to enter these storms with courage and confidence knowing we walk with the One who commands the winds and the sea. Until we meet again – love like Jesus!