In the Midst of the Storm...



Today, as I watch the rain continue and puddles grow until they join forces, I am reminded of the story of the storm in Matthew.  Jesus had sent his disciples into the boats and told them to cross the Sea of Galilee. Being God, he knew that there would be a storm.  It was no surprise to him.  However, this was not like the storm during which Jesus had been asleep in the stern of the boat. During that storm, all they had to do was to wake him up and beg his help.  This time, the disciples were utterly alone - at least as far as they could tell.

But Jesus did something completely unexpected.  He walked on the water, through a massive storm, to the middle of the lake! Just let that mental picture fill your mind for a moment.  When the disciples saw Jesus, they had no thought that it could be him.  They were absolutely terrified! When Peter did realize that it was Jesus, he was so relieved that he jumped out of the boat and started to run toward Jesus. We know the story.  Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and started to sink, but Jesus didn't let that happen.  He rescued him and brought him with him into the boat.  Then the wind ceased.

I needed to read this story today.  About 10:00 last night, we found ourselves in the midst of a storm.  We were tempted to think that we were alone in the boat in the middle of the sea.  We found out that the people who are buying our house are having trouble with the sale of their house.  At first it appeared that it was a disaster, that we wouldn't be able to move forward with the purchase of our farm.  However, as we learned more of the situation, it appears that our move will only be delayed a few weeks.  As we prayed and trusted in God, the storm calmed.  The waves subsided.  We remembered that we are not alone.  God is not absent, but ever present in every situation.  

I am so thankful for the comfort of His love.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bone Temples

In his young adult fantasy novel, Empire of Bones, ND Wilson describes what happens when a Dragon Spirit who inhabits the body of an ancient man is released from the chains that have bound it for centuries. This mythical god-man begins to draw people to himself as sacrifice. The dragon part of the man feeds on and is strengthened by the pain of mortals. If any humans are within his mental reach, he forces them to recall and replay all of the painful memories of their lives as though they were happening to them right then. Every painful memory is stabbed into their consciouses like a knife being twisted in a wound. Each memory is made to appear even worse than it was, and with even greater pain.  Eventually the painful memories break the will of the people and they beg for the decptive relief that the dragon promises. He gives them a type of peace, but it's a peace which steals their entire lives. He separates them from all the people who have ever hurt them (which ends up being eve...
Read more

What's Wrong with Cancel Culture Anyhow?

Image
 "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, ... infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana Why on earth would someone fight to keep racist books on children's bookshelves? Doesn't this act make that person a racist by extension? Have you seen Dr Seuss's racist images? Have you read how Ma from Little House talked about Native Americans? Have you watched Peter Pan singing about why Native Americans have red skin? For that matter, why would someone fight to keep statues of Southern generals in place? Don't you know they were fighting for the right to keep slaves? Why would someone fight to keep a slave owner's name on a street sign? The questions could and do go on. To our modern eyes and ears, anyone who would fight for these thi...
Read more

Raising Covenant Children while Living in Babylon

Image
  My husband and I have been parents for 23 years. During that time, we have had a consistent fight against electronics and screen time. We've had constant dialogue about what we allow our children to watch or not watch, how often they're allowed to watch, if they are allowed to own video games, how often they can play video games, and - now - if they can have smartphones, and how often they are allowed to be used. When our children were very young, the choices were different, but they were still there. Can he watch PBS while mom does dishes? Do we allow Barney into our home? We did allow them to watch, and it was always more than we wished it were.  As our children got older, the questions just grew. Should we have cable or not? When someone gave us a Nintendo set, we had to decide what to do with it. (After a few months, we got rid of we just didn't like the people that our children became as a result of it.) When our oldest was seven, we got rid of all electronics except...
Read more