Storms of life are no fun. They undo us. They throw us off course and cause pain.
But I’m learning about the flip side to a storm. Maybe the positive is that is was meant to throw us off course, switch our rudders and aim us in a different direction.
Storms are designed by God.
That seems crazy doesn’t it. The God of peace and love surely wouldn’t want to throw us into the big middle of a blowing ferocious storm, would he? My mind would like to think not, but I’m learning something totally different.
God is the master orchestrator to get His will done. And let’s face it — sometimes we can be a little stubborn in going and doing what He asks of us. Many times we aren’t paying attention to His small whisper that is trying to get our attention or maybe we’ve wandered off course and we need correction. Either way, when we are interrupted we pause long enough to give God our full attention.
God throws us into storms.
I want to shout — “No, tell me isn’t so. Not my God! He loves me and protects me. Why would he throw me smack-dab into a storm?”
Think of the great people that have been interrupted by storms:
1. Mary, the young teenager.
She’s engaged to get married to Joseph and finds out she is pregnant with God’s son. Do you remember what it was like when you were young and engaged? You were on cloud nine, planning a wedding, feeling the most loved and cherished. I’m sure that’s what Mary was feeling when all the sudden– BAM — a storm God created.
Joseph is not too sure about all this. Others begin to talk. No telling the lectures Mary received from her parents. Chaos ensued and storms arose, but Mary while right in the middle of the storm God had threw her in to was right where God needed her.
2. The disciples.
Imagine your the disciples and you’ve just witness Jesus feeding 5000. Your full of amazement and joy. You’re thinking, “Surely, He is who he says He is — the Savior, the Messiah.” While your heart is full to overflowing as you’ve seen people served and miracles performed, you’re in your sweet spot. It’s been a good long day of miracle-working goodness when Jesus MAKES (Matthew 14:22) the disciples get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake.
They obey. They go. Jesus had interrupted their most perfect day and chaos ensues. The winds blow hard. They are terrified. They see a ghost and squint “Oh wait — that’s Jesus!” Peter questions and decided for clarity he’ll walk on water. Only to be met with “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Interrupted — yes, as they came to know Jesus in a whole new way.
3. Maybe this is you.
Jesus says to his disciples, “Let’s go!” So they all board a boat and set sail. (Luke 8:22) Jesus, wearied and tired, falls asleep as a huge storm rolls in. It reminds me of a scene from Gilligan’s Island. They were tossed and frightened. How could this be? Wasn’t He the Son of man, the one who had performed miracles? Wasn’t this his idea to climb in the boat? To go?
The disciples fearful of drowning in the crashing waves, cry out to Jesus to wake him. “Where is your faith”, he answers.
Storms build faith.
Are you in the middle of a storm? Do you feel like your perfect ministry, health, or family has been rocked and shaken with crashing waves? Could it be that God is birthing something greater? Or is your faith being tested and built stronger so that others will come to know Him through you?
For me I can answer yes, yes, yes to all the above. My world has been shaken with a squall out of nowhere. The storm arises to get my obedience to the words of Jesus, “Go!” I’m sensing correction as my faith is being tested.
Don’t you wonder why God’s will creates storms? Internally or externally — it’s still a storm.
Have you been interrupted by a storm lately?