One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25)
Friday afternoon the weather on Emerald Isle turned, and we enjoyed a blustery evening. The skies darkened; the wind howled; the surf rose; it was like a whole other landscape to enjoy.
Around 7:20, deep into my after dinner stroll along the beach, I came across two kite-boarders, skating across the breaking waves and racing along the shore. Seriously cool.
Earlier in the week the waters were emerald, translucent, beautiful, gem-like, brilliant, fracturing light and capturing the sky; but it took the boiling stormy waters of Friday evening to challenge the kite-boarders. They’d been waiting all week for the weather to break.
Sometimes I wonder at how hard we all work to guarantee ourselves gentle breezes and gem-like conditions, when it’s typically during the storm that we tend to take flight and soar.
Or, maybe, not so much we ourselves as the strength and creativity that is released when we know that we must rely on God? Jesus calmed the waves, yes, but it took the coming of the storm for the disciples to realize how much they needed the Master.
I’m not convinced that what I want is so much the avoidance of storms in my life, as to know and appreciate the reassuring and invigorating companionship of Jesus. That’s when storms become adventures, or vehicles for soaring like the kite-boarders.
Life is full of challenges, and dangers, and trials, and events that tend to overwhelm us; but it is life, all the same. Life with Jesus doesn’t guarantee us calm seas and following winds… but it does grant us peace in the storm, and purpose, and the resources to soar.
I’ll take that over the easy life any day – DEREK
Thank you! Sometimes when the storms of life role around we take our eyes off of Christ when He is there all along wanting us to trust Him in the midst of the difficulties. There is always a rainbow after the storm. Have a great day!