Don’t Be Afraid in the Storm
He replied, “You
of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the
winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. – Matthew 8:26
Sometimes life throws us a curveball. Just when we
think that everything is going along smoothly, something happens that sends
everything into a tailspin. It changes you. Forever.
There is comfort in a predictable life. There is security
in knowing how each day will unfold. There is an easiness to following a known
path. But we don’t grow in the predictable and the easy.
We grow when the diagnosis is hard and we aren’t sure
of the outcome. We grow when someone else’s choice takes away what we always
thought we could count on. We grow when our world suddenly becomes different than
what we’d planned.
We can gain our strength from Christ. Or we can wallow
in a hole that can only lead to sin and more heartbreak.
It’s terrifying to face the struggle. Surely, we can
just stand still and weather the storm? Except we weren’t made to always stay
the same. Our testimony comes when we step out into the unknown, clasping
tightly to our Savior’s hand.
Our lives were never meant to be comfortable. We somehow
miss that lesson as we go about our days. We forget that Jesus’ early disciples
suffered for their faith. It would have been far easier to go along with the
world, to remain silent, to stand aside and let others tell them what to do.
But they weren’t called to that and neither are we.
That doesn’t mean we all must cast aside our fear and
head to a Third World Country and become missionaries. Some people are called
to that. Others are not. Some of us are called to serve right where we are. But
we are all called to serve. We miss that somehow as we go about our
comfortable, self-involved lives.
Until the storm hits. And it always comes. Something
happens to change our comfortable journey and we are left struggling. We cry
out. He is there. He was always there. We were just too busy holding on to our what
we knew to realize how desperately we needed Him.
Can the world see the difference in how we handle
situations and how unbelievers handle the same situations? Do they see our
faith? Do they see the anchor that calms the boat even in the midst of the
storm?
Our lives are meant to direct people to Jesus. We are
meant to bring honor and glory to God. The Holy Spirit is our guide but we have
a choice as to whether we follow His promptings or go a different way.
Choices. Which treatment is the best? How can we
remain silent when the lies surround us? Can we really rebuild a life someone
else tore down? And where is Jesus in the midst of it all?
Right beside you. He’s right there. He will never
leave you or forsake you. He promised and Jesus always keeps His promises. In
the trying moments of this unpredictable world, Jesus is our constant help and
strength. He rejoices with us during the good times and He carries us during
the bad. Don’t be afraid. He’s got you.
