Weather Warning

Is it just me?  Has the weather this month been uglier than usual?  Now, when it comes to November, I brace for storms.  But it seems significantly soggy this year!  A few years ago, the term “atmospheric river” entered our vocabulary.  Such storms on the west coast are now more common, with many people experiencing the damaging effects of wind and rain.  We live in a beautiful part of the world...but this comes with times of toppled trees, power outages, and ferry cancelations.

One famous storm was the destructive nor’easter which whipped up in October 1991 on the Atlantic coast.  In technical terms it was an “extratropical cyclone” which then absorbed Hurricane Grace.  Later, it was dubbed “the perfect storm” and even inspired a book and a movie.  Very recently on our own coast, we experienced a “bomb cyclone” which moved onshore from the Pacific Ocean.  This powerful blast produced gusts of 170 km/h off the northern Vancouver Island and resulted in two deaths in Washington state.

Today I am also thinking of metaphorical storms.  I grew up near an ocean that was sometimes agitated and angry.  I also grew up in church where we sang, “The Lord's our rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time of storm; Secure whatever ill betide, a shelter in the time of storm.”  So, it was early in life that I encountered the metaphor of the "storms of life".  Do you feel you are drowning under the constant barrage of information and technology?  Are you battered by these days of mistrust, cynicism, and social and political polarization?  Societal storms certainly impact us.  But even more intense are the personal storms of our lives.  Winds and waves of sorrow, fear, confusion, or pain can cause deep distress and disruption to our lives.  When you are facing a personal weather warning, where do you run for cover?

In the Gospel of Mark we read of an occasion when Jesus’ disciples were rocked by a literal storm on Galilee while He remained fast asleep.  They went so far as to believe that Jesus did not care for their safety.  First, Jesus pointed to their lack of faith.  Then He commanded calm from the elements – “Hush, be still!”  Shocked, the disciples continued in fear, exclaiming, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 5:39,41)

The disciples were not just coming to terms with a literal storm.  In a deeper way, they were grappling with how they could trust and depend on Jesus to care for them whatever the disaster.  Another intense storm of life is physical suffering.  This was the apostle Paul’s experience.  But in his case, God provided strength through his storm rather than removing what was some form of vision problem.  In II Corinthians 12:8-9 he wrote, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

If you are a follower of Jesus, you need to recognize and rest in the truth that Jesus is both capable and compassionate when it comes to our storms.  Songwriters Benton Kevin Stokes and Tony W. Wood have expressed it eloquently,

All who sail the sea of faith find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark and gentle winds grow strong

Suddenly fear is like white water pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing that our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm with a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea but it doesn't mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close and lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child

Yes, Jesus is more than qualified to silence the storms in our lives.  But it is equally true that He sustains us through storms.  In fact, when we are urged to live with joyful trust in God, leaving our worries with Him, we are promised peace inexplicable!  “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippian 4:4-7)