When it storms...

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 4:38 - 41

Last night about midnight our home was shaken by severe weather coming through the area.  For many of my neighbors, every time we encounter storms, they are reminded of Hurricane Harvey and the flooding it caused where we live.   As the storm front approached, a planter toppled over in the wind, knocking against the house.  The thunder caused one of our dogs to jump into bed to seek consoling, until our alarm system went off in the home, noting that a Tornado Warning had just been issued for our community.

It was a stormy night!

Lately when I encounter storms, I try to remember the night that the storms began to rage while Jesus slept in a boat upon the water as the disciples began to worry about their safety.  They are being tossed about, while Jesus sleeps.  They finally awaken him, afraid of sinking, and Jesus looks at them and then calms the storm.

He then asks the disciples, "What's wrong?  Don't you have faith?"

I recognize that we will always have storms.  Sometimes storms involve anger, restlessnes, depression, and a number of other situations.  What I try to remind myself is that even in the midst of the storm, God is present.

When we begin to feel God's presence, our storms can become less frightening.  Learning to live with God in the eye of the storm, we all can be safely brought to a place where we can once again find peace and joy.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019