The Storm is Real, But He Is There

Things have felt a bit off kilter around here lately. Hubby’s work stress, some big decisions to be made for our kids, homeschool deadlines, and unexpected medical and car bills have made things a little bit crazy. We hit the summer activities with a bang, which is great for keeping the big kids busy but tough on introvert mommy who doesn’t love running here and there every day.

Even wonderful, long anticipated things like trips to visit far away friends and family can add pressure to the already intense season. I’ll be honest and say that I’m not feeling very steady.

This is where I usually talk about how Jesus is the rock we stand on, and he is unshakable, which is true. But sometimes when I don’t feel steady, being told that I am makes me feel a little crazy. Yes, it is still true and I need to speak truth.  Yet a different perspective can be helpful.

There is a great story in the Bible about Jesus and his disciples going out on a boat into the Sea of Galilee. They met with a huge storm. But Jesus was asleep and the disciplines panicked. I’ve heard many deeply theological interpretations of this scripture, and I’m not going to dispute those. But I tend to take it at face value. Jesus walked the earth in a human body.  His human body was tired, therefore he had to sleep. But the disciples mistook his sleep for lack of concern.

The disciples woke him in distress, and he calmed the storm. But the storm wasn’t in their imagination. It was real. They were, in fact, unsteady. The sea was in turmoil. They were out of control.  But Jesus was in control. He did calm the storm, but even in the midst of the storm he was there.

I know that Jesus is there, even in my storms. I don’t deny the difficulties exist, but I will speak truth over them. I will acknowledge the unsteadiness without giving into guilt that I should be able to hold it all together on my own. I know that calm will come, though I don’t know when. I choose to remember that I’m not in the boat alone.