LESSONS FROM A STORM

Storms are a great analogy for intense, difficult, and trying seasons in your life where you may be feeling out of control, hopeless, overwhelmed, and simply put, like you are drowning.

The great news is, you are not alone. The same God who can command the winds and the waves, loves you intensely and can rescue from any storm you are facing.

Read on to learn two lessons you can hold on to when facing trying times in your life!

My Personal Storm

I spent half of 2019 struggling through an emotional and spiritual storm. I had unresolved trauma as a result of a c-section I had with my firstborn. Then, when my new doctor recommended a second c-section for my next baby, I immediately had intense fear, anxiety, and grief that raged war from within me, threatening to steal any form of peace and joy I once had. I battled what felt like an unrelenting storm, and not very well because I chose to distance myself from God in the midst of it. Thankfully, the faithfulness of the Lord is not dependent on me but His goodness; it was when I was drowning from fear and hopelessness, I felt His hand reach out for me and rescue me from destruction.

During this season of heightened fear, the image of a storm presented itself to me on more than one occasion, yet, the one that stood out to me the most was discovered in a Bible passage found in Matthew 14:22-33.

Matthew 14:22-33 {Recap}

This passage is most commonly referred to as “Jesus Walks on Water.” (Check your Bible; it probably has a similar title before the selection.) Yet, what stood out to me this time was not the incredible ability and authority over nature Jesus had to walk on water (though, that is something worth marveling over!), but His character to rescue His people. 

In the story, Jesus traveled to his disciples, who were far away at sea, by walking on water. While Jesus was making his way to them, the Bible says the waves and the wind were beating the boat. The disciples were facing a literal storm. As they were trying to stay afloat, their fear level increased because they saw what they assumed to be a ghost walking towards them. Jesus calls out for them to not be afraid because it is Him, their Lord. 

Peter, in faith, said, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” So Jesus called him to do just that. As Peter stepped out of the boat (wow, talk about an initial act of faith!), he quickly became overwhelmed by the unrelenting and probably ruthless winds around him, and he began to sink. It was then, Jesus reached out to him to prevent him from being consumed by the water.

#1 Taking your eyes off Jesus brings fear.

When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and became distracted by the intense winds, he began to sink. Taking your eyes off of Jesus brings great anxiety. I could COMPLETELY relate to Peter’s fear. At the time, all I was focusing on was my traumatic experience, which I allowed to consume all of my thoughts, and it eventually spiraled into emotions of fear, anxiety, and self-centeredness. I could not seem to see anything else but my fears. My eyes were not fixed on Jesus, who could bring me peace, freedom, and miracles regardless of the storm I was facing. Jesus was there in my storm with me, but I was distracted by the winds and waves, so much so that I began to believe they were more powerful than Jesus was.

#2 Regardless of your unfaithfulness, Jesus is faithful and forgiving.

Yes, Jesus did rebuke Peter’s lack of faith, and rightfully so. But He also saved Peter from drowning when Peter cried out for his Lord to save him. The God I serve is faithful even when I am not. He saves me; he corrects me; he gives me another chance. Peter had many other “failures” recorded in scripture, but the Lord forgave him, and He used Peter in incredible ways. God saw Peter’s deepest desire was to repent and serve the Great I Am.

Just like Peter, when my circumstances consumed me, Jesus reached out his hand and caught me and used his words to correct me. I have experienced healing as I learn to redirect all my attention to Jesus when anxiety affects my heart.

He will bring you to still waters. 

During this season of my “storm,” I sought counseling to help overcome past hurts from a place called Still Waters. During one session, the verse “The Lord is my Shepard I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm ‭23:1-2)‬ came to my mind. I shared the verse with my counselor, and he said that verse was where the name of their counseling service originated from. I could not believe I had not realized it before; God brought me to “still waters” to heal and find restoration from my storm. Once again, the Lord has shown me his promises are always true. And I am happy to say that though I am still disappointed by the circumstances that led to my first c-section, I am grateful to have grown closer to Jesus and learn what it means to fix my eyes on Him amid the various storms in life.

For those who are His followers, let me encourage you: If you are weary and burdened, He will guide you to still waters to find rest for your soul; you need only to keep your eyes on Jesus regardless of the storms raging around you. If you have not decided to follow Jesus as your Lord yet, let me encourage you to cry out to Him now. He is the God who calms the storms and brings peace to the chaos, and will rescue your soul.

Reflect and Connect

What circumstances have threatened to take your eyes off Jesus?
What have you learned about God and yourself from “storms” you have encountered?
What promise from God do you cling on to during trouble?