Jump Start # 4044
Luke 8:22 “Now it came about on one of those days, that He got into a boat, He and His disciples, and said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ And they launched out.
Readers of the Bible know this story. Mark gives us insight as if he was a weather man. He tells us that a fierce gale of wind arose. The waves were over the boat. The boat was filling up with water. Frantic, scared and losing all hope, the disciples awaken Jesus with the plea, “We are perishing.” In our words, we’d say, “Jesus, we are about to die!” This is not something that could be dealt with later on. In a few moments, that boat would begin to sink. Water inside a boat is not good. Waves above the boat is not good. The storm they faced was greater than they were.
And, such is the nature of storms. They are greater than we are. We can’t see into tomorrow. We can’t fix everything. Out of money and the bills keep coming in and things keep needing fixed. What to do? What seems like a typical day at work ends with you carrying out a box of your personal possessions because you have been let go. The words “Stage four” are attached to your medical results. You thought it was just a sore muscle. Now the discussion turns to surgery, chemo or even hospice.
Our storms can come very suddenly, just like they do on a sea. Our storms change our plans and can upset our world. There are times when the only place to turn to is the Lord.
Three lessons to learn from the Storms of Life:
First, Jesus knew all about the coming storm. How often we may say, “I never saw that coming.” That may be true. But, God did. The story of the farmer who was going to tear down his barns and build larger ones never saw that his life was coming to an end that very night. No tomorrow here. No next week. That very night his soul was required. God sees the storms that we don’t.
Second, the storm may be exactly the place that God wants us to be. I think that is true of Jonah and his storm. I think that is true here in our Luke passage. This section ends with the disciples amazed and afraid because even the wind and the waves obey Jesus. His voice is all that it takes. He commands in ways that are so beyond us. Feeding the pigs is what it took for the prodigal to come to his senses and come home. As scary, violent, and helpless storms make us, they can do wonders for our heart. They can lead us to praying like we have never prayed before. They can enrich our fellowship with one another in ways like it never has before.
We do all we can to avoid storms. Sometimes it’s the storms that lead us to trusting the Lord deeper than we ever have before.
Third, the disciples were never alone. They had Jesus. Jesus in the boat is all that they needed. And, that’s exactly what we need. Jesus with you in the medical test. Jesus and you looking for another job. Jesus and you having a conversation with your troubled teen. Jesus and you in working that budget.
Hopeless and helpless are not the words when Jesus is with us. God may call upon us to do hard things. Changing our ways, apologizing to others, becoming patient, learning humility—tough lessons, but lessons of faith, as the disciples had to learn.
When Peter was chained in a prison and the Lord sent an angel and the doors opened up. Do you think Peter was shocked and amazed? The Lord that can stop a storm can open prison doors. The Lord that can shut the mouths of lions, part seas, make fire come down from Heaven, can calm your scared heart and give rest to a weary soul.
Paul told the Thessalonians, in everything be thankful (1 Thes 5:18). For everything, be thankful. It’s easy to thank the Lord for sunshine. How about the thunderstorms? How about the storms in your life? Thankful because it brings me closer to the Lord. Thankful because it opened my eyes to what really matters. Thankful for His enduring love.
Storms…learn from them. They can make you better.
Roger