“Hurricane Amelia is forming off the coast of Florida,” reported the weather man. “Folks, it’s time to get prepared for our first hurricane of the season. Be sure to have on hand flashlights, batteries, bottled water and all the other essential items you can find on our website. This may be our first hurricane but it won’t be our last. We can anticipate this type of weather through November. So, don’t wait for the hurricane to hit! Get prepared now!”
Hurricanes usually form from June to November. Each year, the news and weather channels remind us to be prepared by having essential items on hand. Once the season passes, there is the promise of calmer weather. However, when the storms hit, they leave in their wake a path of devastation from ravaging winds, torrential rains and deadly tornados. We either experience or see reports of uprooted trees, destroyed property, lost power and catastrophic flooding.
Isn’t life sometimes like hurricane season?
Just like hurricane storms arrive for a season, the storms of life come for a season as well. There just seem to be seasons where problems blow into our lives. Do you ever feel that way? We just get hit with one thing after another! These problems can knock us down, destroy our plans and flood us with debt leaving in their path a wake of devastation – just like a hurricane.
But in the midst of a horrific storm, there is one place in the center of the storm that is calm and peaceful; the eye.
In the midst of the hurricanes of life, we too, can find a place that is calm and peaceful. That place is in Jesus;
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You, Isaiah 26:3.
Just like we gather our flashlights, batteries and water as essentials to prepare us for a physical hurricane, in faith we can gather our spiritual equipment to prepare us for the seasons when the storms of life come.
Our spiritual flashlight is God’s Word which lights our path;
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, Psalm 119:105
Our batteries are the power we receive from the Holy Spirit;
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth, Acts 1:8
Our water is the living water we receive when we believe in Jesus;
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life,” John 4:13-14
When used often, this spiritual equipment not only prepares us for storms but helps us to keep our focus on Jesus. Jesus will bring us peace in midst of the storms. But what if the storm knocks us down? If we call on Him, He will rescue us just like He did with Peter.
Do you know the story of Peter walking on the water in the midst of a storm?
How did Peter act? How did Jesus react?
In Matthew 14:22-33, Peter and the other disciples were in a boat being tossed about by strong winds. They were probably afraid. At least I would be. Jesus knowing their hearts would have wanted to calm their fears. Since He was not in the boat, Jesus walked on the sea to reach them. Well, Peter got very excited when he saw Jesus walking on water. Wouldn’t you be? So, he jumped out of the boat but not into the water.
Not into the water? No!
Peter was walking on top of the water to reach Jesus! But then, Peter’s focus changed from Jesus to the storm and he began to sink. Peter cried out to Jesus to save him and immediately, Jesus reacted by stretching out His hand and saving Peter. Even though Peter’s faith wavered, because of Jesus’ love, He saved him. He also calmed the storm.
Just as Peter called out to Jesus who saved him in the midst of a boisterous storm, we can call out to Jesus when facing the storms of life.
No matter what storms are happening in our lives, in faith when we keep our focus on Jesus, He will bring us peace even during the storm. All it takes is a little bit of faith.
REFLECTION
Are you facing any storms? What spiritual equipment can you use to keep your focus on Jesus?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Isaiah 26:3 and say it out loud, help me to focus on You and have faith that You will give me peace in the midst of the storms.
IN FAITH FOCUS ON JESUS WHO WILL GIVE US PEACE IN THE STORMS
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May your day be filled with love and laughter!
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Photo crushed car, Michael Jin, unsplash
Photo Bible & light, Cathy Mu, unsplash
Photo boat on Sea of Galilee, Dave Herring, unsplash
