My wife loves a good thunderstorm, me not so much. She loves to watch the clouds darken as they roll in, listen to the booming thunder, see the lightning, and the sudden downpour of driving rain. Meanwhile, I’m thinking of shingles coming off the roof, broken tree limbs that will need to be cleaned up, and the ever-potential roof leaks that then necessitate repairs and insurance claims, you get the picture. However, I am in awe of the power of nature. The other day one of those storms rolled in. We were watching it from our back deck. Within minutes the wind was whipping, the clouds darkened to a deep black, and then suddenly, the rain came down in sheets. All we had to do was step back into the house, shut the door, and we were safe and dry! And no, there were no lost shingles, no water leaks, and no broken tree limbs to clean up!

Scripture tells us of another storm which caught a group of experienced fishermen by surprise when they were out in a boat. You know it’s bad when seasoned fishermen are afraid! Storms are like that. They can shift our focus to the circumstances, and we fail to see the resources we have at hand. Matthew writes: “there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves . . . And they woke him, saying, save us, Lord, we are perishing” (Matt. 8:24-25). In another storm, not nearly as dramatic, which took place in the middle of the night, Jesus came walking on the water, and the disciples were afraid. Peter, being Peter, wanted to walk on water as well, so Jesus invited him, and Peter jumped out of the boat. Can you imagine Peter at that moment; “hey guys, look at me, I'm walking on water!” That doesn't happen in physics where the weight of a man and the buoyancy of water collide; you don't walk, you sink! Matthew writes: “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me” (Matt. 15:29-30).

In both storms, the storm itself caused fear in the disciples, and it was Jesus that both calmed the storm and calmed the disciples. Storms can have that effect on us. We are impressed and in awe of nature until the storm's power starts to do some damage. Then, that awe can quickly turn to fear.

We will all pass through storms in life. Some are personal storms, such as health, or relational issues. Storms may also come in the form of job loss, financial market crashes and even perhaps new and improved pandemics! In the midst of it, we may be tempted to focus on the clouds, the wind, and the approaching force and respond in fear. But there is another option. Put your focus on the One who still calms the storm. He can bring calm to each of us. How we respond to these storms is often an indication of our relationship with the One who controls the storm. When we fail to see the sovereignty of God in all things, large and small, we then focus on the storm, we are afraid, and we begin to doubt. Contrast that to putting our complete trust in the One who allowed the storm and has power over it. Faith is not the absence of fear and doubt. Instead, faith keeps us focused on Jesus, even when the storm is raging, and we are tempted to focus on the circumstances.

So what storms are in your life right now? Be like Peter, step out of the boat. You will be told you can't; it's not possible; it's foolish. Do it anyway! Keep your eyes on the One who calls you, the One who allowed the storm, and the One you can trust to provide all you will need despite the storm.

Trusting Jesus despite the storm!

Rev. Bill Allan
AGC President

2022: Stay the Course! - Overcoming the Storm