The Joy of the Journey: Storms

The Joy of the Journey

Storms

As I write this article, we are preparing for a dangerous line of storms that will pass through our area. Already, those storms have caused much damage throughout the West and are tracking our way. This makes me think about storms that come into our lives. The fact is, we’re either going into a storm, in a storm, or coming out of a storm. There are very few times in our lives when we are always at peace.  

We all have to deal with the storms of life. True story, I was about eight years old and we had a very severe line of thunderstorms come through the area where we lived.   I was very frightened, because in the mountainous region, we lived in the thunder with an echo that seemed to last for ten minutes at a time.  My father noticed the worried look on my face and looked at me with a smile and said, “Phil, don’t worry, don’t you know God directs the lightning?” I looked at him with a very concerned look and said, “yes, but what if he directed at us?” Dad laughed and asked me if there was something in my life I needed to pray about.    Our family still laughs at that story, but it makes me think how many times do we feel as if God is directing the storm at us?

Life is full of storms—seasons of chaos, pain, and uncertainty. These storms may come suddenly, disrupting everything we thought was certain in our lives. Storms challenge our sense of control, whether they involve a health crisis, financial strain, broken relationships, or the grief of loss. But Scripture gives us a powerful reminder: when Jesus is in the boat, even if He appears to be asleep, everything is going to be okay.

This truth is illustrated in Mark 4:35–41, where Jesus and His disciples face a literal storm. Verse 37 sets the scene: “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.” The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, were terrified. Despite all their experience and knowledge, they were powerless against the storm.  None of their skills with handling boats or knowledge of the water seem to be helping them now. I know I felt that way, none of my knowledge of the Word or my prayers, seems to be affecting the fierceness of the storms that come from time to time. During those times, I have to remember who’s in the boat with me.

Jesus was asleep. “But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion”. To the disciples, this must have felt like abandonment. How could He sleep through such a dangerous moment? So they cried out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”.  Their question echoes the cry of every heart in crisis: “God, do you care?” Mark 4:28. Jesus’ response is both gentle and powerful. “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm”.  With just a word, Jesus calms the chaos. But then He turns to His disciples and asks, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”.  This moment reveals a deeper lesson: their peace was never supposed to come from calm waters—it was supposed to come from trust in Him. Mark 4:39-40

Jesus never promised a storm-free life. In fact, in John 16:33, He says plainly: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Trouble is guaranteed, but so is His victory. When Jesus is present—whether actively calming the storm or seemingly silent—His authority remains. The waves still know His name.  Even in His silence, Jesus is not absent. His sleep in the boat wasn’t carelessness; it was a demonstration of complete trust in the Father and a call for His followers to do the same. Psalm 121:4 reminds us, “Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Though Jesus slept in His humanity, He was never out of control.  We will be surprised by the storms. God has never once been surprised by storm. He’s still the master of the wind and the waves, and when He is ready, He will calm your storm.  

Storms will come, and storms will go. They may shake the boat, they may even fill it with water, but they will never sink it if Jesus is inside. He is our anchor in the storm, our refuge in the chaos, and our peace in the unknown.  Trusting in God, during these times is our refuge and strength.  By the way, God can also deal with the physical storms that we face.  Praying for protection over you and your family and all of our surrounding area.