Stormy Weather

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

– Mark 4:37-38

Turn on the TV and surf the Web and try to avoid the nonstop news stories about politics, crime, and civil unrest. And it’s no easier to escape the 24/7 coverage of natural disasters, corruption, and the storm clouds of international conflict. But living with unsettling headlines is nothing new. In fact, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus proclaimed these words of assurance that are just as relevant to modern-day Christ-followers as they were to his first disciples:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

In one form or another, storms are everywhere. And there’s no way to avoid them — even after we’ve switched off the smartphone and clicked away from Instagram and Facebook. For some people, the tempest might be a job loss or bankruptcy. For others, it’s a chronic illness or the prospect of major surgery. Maybe your storm involves family or relationship issues like a divorce or the loss of a loved one. And this raises a good question: Does God even care about our personal hurricanes, earthquakes, and flash floods? 

The good news is that we worship a God who’s much greater than any natural disaster, economic difficulty, or international dispute. Ours is a God who literally spoke the universe into creation, formed great mountain ranges with his hands, and parted the seas with a breath. With just a word, he calmed the stormy waters of Lake Galilee that had threatened to drown Jesus’ small band of followers. And even more amazing is that he knows his creation (including you and me) by name.

Let’s also remember that God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. And while our Mighty Creator doesn’t remove every storm from our presence, he proves his power and presence within them. 

Indeed, there will be times when lightning flashes and thunder rumbles overhead. But the storms that seem so great today will become laughably insignificant tomorrow. Moreover, we can rest assured that amidst all the wind and rain, blue skies are on the horizon for those with Christ as their Savior.