Tuesday October 11, 2016
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ?Quiet! Be still!? Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ?Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?? They were terrified and asked each other, ?Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!? -Mark 4:39-41
Have you ever caught yourself in an unexpected storm? You are somewhere that isn’t home and all the sudden it starts to pour rain, thunder, and lightning. I have. I think the most memorable time I was caught in a ferocious storm was when I was running track in high school. The game had begun, and shortly after a storm blew in. We went running for all our bags and belongings and retreated to the bus.
I love storms. I love when the clouds get dark, and puffy. I love when the trees start swaying, letting everyone know that something is about to blow in. I also love when the storm comes out of nowhere and cancels my track meet. That was awesome.
However, there are storms that I do not love. These storms, are the ones that make you feel like everything you have is being sucked out of you. They come out of nowhere. They cause things to get dark, cloudy, and gloomy. The wind begins to whistle despair, heartache, and trouble. Words, actions, and confusion crash loudly around you. These are the storms of life.
Oddly enough, it?s the storms that whisper His name. Storms in life make His presence most known. So prepare yourself when the seas of life begin to grow restless because you are getting ready to encounter God. What a heartbreakingly beautiful thing it is to behold. God calms the storm. He silences the whistling of insecurity, and he clears the cloud of depression. You might not be able to be able to avoid the storm, you might not be able to plan for the storm, but you do know the One who calms the storm. Friend, you can weather these storms because you know the God that controls the weather.
Prayer: God, thank you for being bigger than the storms of my life. I pray that you step in and silence the weather around me. Thank you for taking care of me and never leaving me to fight hardships on my own. In your name I pray, Amen.
-Whitney Flach
