Stormproof

By Carol McLeod

April 1, 2022 • 6 min read

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Carol McLeod

When the waves of life begin to overwhelm you – and they will – what will you do? When you are in the middle of a storm, what types of questions do you ask? Those questions might just determine your potential to overcome the tempest.

Peter said [to Jesus], “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” – Matthew 14:28

Let’s consider the question Peter asked when Jesus arrived in the middle of that storm at sea. Perhaps what Peter intended everyone in the little wooden boat to comprehend was what the nearness of Jesus offered for all of them: “Jesus, if it’s really You, that means that a miracle is about to take place!”

Peter, the man of adventure and faith, recognized this moment as the opportunity of a lifetime. He knew he could be part of a demonstrative miracle of Jesus, and so he proclaimed, in effect, “Jesus, I want what You’ve got!” Peter, the common man, walked on the water with Jesus, the Son of God, superseding the laws of nature.

Peter, the uneducated (but opinionated) fisherman, used tempestuous waves as literal stepping-stones to reach his beloved Lord. Peter, the one who would deny Christ three times, accepted Jesus’ invitation to “come” to Him outside of a boat in the middle of a storm at sea!

Yet, when Peter started looking at his circumstances, he saw the force of the wind, and he became frightened. And the instant he took His eyes off of Jesus and became more aware of the storm than he was of his Savior, he began to sink. It is clear that if you are more aware of your personal squall than you are of the presence and power of Jesus, like Peter, you will become overwhelmed with fear and find that you are in way over your head.

The instant Peter reached out and took the hand of Jesus, he was up on the waves again. My weathered friend, even if you have made devastating and unforgettable mistakes in life, take Jesus’ hand! Look into His twinkling eyes and cling to Him with every ounce of strength that remains in your storm-tossed life!

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

No matter how long your storm has raged and how violent your circumstances have become, Jesus is not ignoring your tempest. He is on His way and will, indeed, calm your storm in His perfect and complete timing.

Paul is yet another New Testament example of a man who encountered a fierce storm while in service to the Lord.

There are seasons in life when conditions may seem to go from absolutely terrible to entirely debilitating. Such was the situation in which Paul, the apostle, found himself in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. There will be times when you will be unable to control the events that are rebelliously gusting into your life. During those moments, as you taste the saltiness of fear and as you hang on to anything that seems stable, always remember you have an Anchor.

Your security is found in clinging to a relationship with Jesus Christ. When the salt water of circumstances leaves a slimy aftertaste in your mouth and when the world around you is threatening and inconsistent, find your Anchor and let Him hold you fast amid the uncontrollable waters of your life.

The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. – Acts 27:18 NLT

In the midst of the great storm that Paul and his fellow travelers were experiencing, they began to “jettison the cargo”. When that decision didn’t lighten their load sufficiently, “they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands” (Acts 27: 19).  The desperate crew had no choice but to dump all of the cargo that was not necessary for the saving of their boat or of their very lives. So, ask yourself what changes you need to implement in order to steer clear of the rocky coastline you are being tossed toward and make it through your storm unscathed. What might you need to jettison out of your life?

Paul, who had endured so much for the gospel of Jesus Christ, told these frightened and waterlogged individuals, “Keep up your courage”! Paul wasn’t threatened by, or afraid of, the storm, because he was more aware of the strength of God than he was of his own weakness.

Where does a person find courage when the wind is wailing and the visibility is nearly zero? Where does courage come from when an ordinary man or woman is in the middle of a downpour of disappointment or a deluge of despair? Where is courage in that moment? Hidden in Paul’s words is a four-word phrase that holds the key to courageous living: “For I believe God…” (Acts 27: 25).

Paul and his maritime companions had spent over two weeks in the “storm of the century” when, finally, they heard some breakers upon the land. What did this crew of tired, waterlogged men do? “They cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.” That one phrase holds all the wisdom that you will ever need for any treacherous and long-lasting storm in life.

 

  • The first anchor that protects my life from the jagged shoreline of circumstances is the Word of God. The eternal truth, divine wisdom, and inherent healing power, which are found on the sacred pages of the Bible, determine my primary anchor of protection.
  • The second anchor that holds me steady in the appalling monsoons of life is a choice to worship even in the storm. My friend, stop murmuring or moaning and start worshipping! The people of God are a people who sing; it is what we are known for. We sing when others weep and we worship when others complain. We praise when others panic and we make melody in our hearts when others allow dread to fill their souls.
  • My third anchor is a commitment to prayer. Prayer is a place of powerful influence and sweet communion; prayer is the force that makes hell quiver in fear and causes heaven to rise to its feet and joyfully applaud.
  • My fourth anchor is the power of the Holy Spirit. You will never make it through any storm in life, large or small, if you don’t tap into the power of God’s Spirit and allow yourself to be changed by it!

After Paul’s weakened sailing vessel hit a reef and began to be torn apart, all 276 passengers and crew (see Acts 27:37) either swam or found something to grab onto as the waves washed them upon the shore. They were alive, just as God had promised! The next time you are in over your head, think of Paul’s sea journey and remind yourself that God will fulfill His promise to always be with you and carry you through.

In the middle of the storm, we become more like Him, and we are changed into people of valor and destiny. Even while the storm outside is wreaking havoc and unleashing destruction, within the storm shelter, we are protected and provided with a glorious sustenance. The storm has now become our finest hour as God’s work is completed in our lives.