I have always said that I’d never live in a storm-prone area like Tornado Alley. Can you imagine the devastation that those folks encounter? Having to start over and even losing their loved ones? I say I’d never live there, but am I allowing a storm to brew inside of me?
I was thinking about this and I remembered a favorite song lyric that goes something like “He calms the storm in me.” I tear up every time I hear it because that is exactly what He has done in me, so many times. Past hurts and failures can often determine how we respond to others. When you’ve been conditioned to trust no one, those storms can pop up at any time. So much damage….So much lost.
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 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?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Lord, thank you for quieting the storm within me. Please forgive me when my faithlessness allowed the storm to rage within me. Time and time again, you have replaced chaos and fear with your indescribable peace. You’ve calmed my spirit when I could not see past the clouds around me. Thank you for you staying with me throughout the storms of life, Lord. Increase my faith and show me how to weather the storm and command the winds around me to be still. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Halcyondale Cottage 