Stepping Into the Storm

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea. Matthew 8:23,24

The dynamics of their day changed when the disciples climbed into a boat with Jesus. Following Him led to a storm in their life and I am being reminded this morning that many times it is no different for us in this present age. As believers we have a desire within us to know God on a personal, intimate level. For some that desire has been buried under years of religious activity, going along with the crowd, and making their outward life appear to be just right. But the desire is still there. It is that ache inside them that whispers to them when they are finally alone with their own thoughts. Something is telling them there has got to be more to the Christian life and they long to know what it is.

I use to have a pretty “safe” way to live my Christian life. It boiled down to a neat system of behavior. Go to church, get involved, keep the rules, do what was expected of me, keep issues at the surface, never question, blend in to look and sound like everyone else, stay away from anything or anyone that didn’t agree with what I believed, and at all costs don’t make waves! While it was a safe box to live in it brought no internal satisfaction, healing, direction, or connection to God on a personal level. God was not the One I felt comfortable talking to, His Word was not something I opened on a daily or even weekly basis, and an incredible sense of emptiness, loneliness, and condemnation engulfed me. That was the shore of my existence for decades. Could people tell it on the outside? No! But my internal world mocked me.

The day I climbed into my own “boat” with Jesus was profound. All was bright and sunny for the most part. But the storm eventually came and I had to learn what it means to trust Jesus no matter what the circumstances of my life looked like. While it would appear my life has come unraveled my soul finally knows what it is like to be in daily relationship with my heavenly Father. So let the winds blow, let the waves cover me, let the rains descend! I have no intention on going back to the shores of comfort. I would rather be alone with Jesus in the midst of a storm than be surrounded by multitudes in my own emptiness.

Father, You see every storm that approaches. Your presence, Your Words, and Your voice sustain me! Amen.