God will calm our storms

“Out of control” is a contemporary phrase used to describe people, situations or circumstances.

Among other definitions, it means uncontrolled, impossible, unmanageable and insurmountable. It can also be described as “out of hand” or “spinning out of control.”

As a child, do you remember the spinning rides at the amusement park? It is interesting to watch someone exiting from one such ride. Usually they are walking with a stagger, trying to hold on to the rail or each other. Their heads are spinning.

As a participant, going through the motions, holding on and trying to wave to or focus on someone outside the fence is close to impossible. Even trying to talk to the person we ride with is difficult. Things are moving too fast to communicate. We just hold on, till the ride is over.

This illustration will help us to see what happens in our lives as we go through those times in life where it is “out of control.”

Life is full of the unexpected. There are those things that we can plan for, such as holidays, vacations and home improvements. The unplanned and unexpected are those occurrences in life that catch us off guard.

Illnesses, job losses, family issues, and unforeseen heartache are the “out of control” times. It is during those times especially that our faith must be rock solid, knowing that the Lord will make a way and provide the needed wisdom for every unexpected need.

To us it is unexpected, but to him, the answer and the provision’s already provided.

Our heavenly trust fund deposit was made by the Lord, before the foundation of this world in anticipation of this need, and is now available for us.

Psalm 118:5-6 reads, “From my distress I called upon the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

This assertion of faith exemplifies the Lord’s saving grace and kindness.

When we call on the name of the Lord, he hears our cry, answers and rescues.

The timing of that answer is in his hands.

Let your heart be strong and courageous, it will come.

Scripture contains a story of a few fishermen, Christ’s disciples, who got into a boat and proceeded to cross over the lake to go to the other side. Jesus is on board, but still there is a storm that descends. The boat is rocking and weaving in the turbulent waters and fear grips the hearts of those on board. They cry out to the Lord for help.

I wonder what their initial thought was, and if given the case it may be ours as well.

Could it have been, “We are not going to make it through this situation; our boat is about to capsize!”

In Mark 4:38, the disciples cried out to Jesus saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Our initial feeling can be that God doesn’t care about what we are going through and our hearts become discouraged. This discouragement or sometimes anger then becomes an additional battle that we need not fight. We must know and resolve the mental battle ahead of time.

The truth is definite. He does care about us and will calm the storm.

His response to those in the boat is also a response to us.

In verse 40 Jesus says, “Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?”

In paraphrasing another way, Jesus is saying to them and to us, “After all of the divine interventions and miracles you have seen and experienced, how is it that this uncontrollable storm would send you spinning into fear and unbelief? Don’t you already know that I control the winds, waves and the storms?”

He says to us, and to the storms, “Peace; be still!”

And immediately the storm ceases.

Trying times, difficult problems and unfair circumstances will befall each one of us.

It may be the mental, emotional, financial or physical battles of life that come against us with the intent of destruction.

If it so happens at this time that life is spinning out of control, remember you are not in it alone.

The Lord has a promise for you found in Isaiah 41:10, and it reads, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Trust in Jesus and lean upon him.

Not only will you make it through the storms but you will arrive at the other side safe and secure!

Patty Scahill of Austintown is a conference speaker and author.