September 26
“LORD, help! They cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.” Psalm 107:28-29
This fourth and final example of God’s ability to rescue involves mariners who were caught in a terrible storm and about to drown (vv.23-32). If you’ve seen, “The Perfect Storm,” you can imagine how frightening that would be. They called out to God and He calmed the sea.
I’ve discovered that there are two storms in life: the outer storm that rages around me, and the inner storm as I battle fear, temptation, despair, anger, etc. So many of my outer tempests have been caused by my own sin and foolishness. Some have been created by the foolishness of others—some by just living in a broken world. Regardless, it’s a storm I have to deal with.
If I’m the cause, I can take steps that might quell it: seek forgiveness, make restitution, change a decision, etc. But other storms are beyond my ability to influence. In both cases, I’ve learned to call on the Storm Whisperer.
Jesus was out with His buds fishing and fell asleep. A storm blew in and they woke Jesus with their screams as the boat was about to capsize. Jesus declared: “Silence! Be still!” and the wind and waves were quiet (Mark 4:39). Many times, I have called on the Storm Whisperer and He has stilled the outer storms of my life.
But that inner storm is what He’s most interested in, because that is where real faith is tested: will I trust Him, even if the outer storm continues? My outer storms have been so varied: Sue’s cancer, mom’s Alzheimer’s, brother’s alcoholism, confronting racism in a former church, mass exodus from and staff mutiny at Rush Creek in 2000—I could go on and on. When those outer storms raged, I called on the Storm Whisperer to quell the fear and bring peace to my weary soul—and He did.
Hours before Jesus’ arrest and death and the resulting storm, He promised: “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).
Whatever your storm, find peace IN HIM!
Jesus, be the Storm Whisperer to me, I pray. Amen
Thank you ABBA
Thank you ABBA
Thank you ABBA