Storm

Emotions, they can be rough at times. In our attempt to control these often wayward and chaotic feelings we laugh them off with a wave of “That is just how I am.”  Or throw up a pleading prayer “Oh God take it away!”  But we rarely REALLY want to address them.  Before we pray them away (in Jesus’ name) may we first consider “Why?” we are feeling what we are feeling. 

Could it be due to a storm we are in. An emotional storm can be our reaction to a sudden rush of circumstance that swirls around us.  Or a brewing of both external and internal disturbances.* (See below).

Storm.

Mark chapter 4:35-41, we know this story (I paraphrase):

Jesus tells the disciples “Let’s go to the other side.”  They get in the boat and head across.  Sometime in, a huge storm comes up.  The disciples are terrified. They cry out to Jesus. Jesus stands and calms the storm.

There’s one thing I find interesting; In Mark’s telling, he adds one detail the other gospels (Matthew 8, Luke 8) don’t tell: “There were other boats with Him” (v36).  They weren’t alone out there.

I see four lessons in the storm (among MANY):

1). Listen to Jesus.  He said, “Let’s go to the other side.”  Jesus doesn’t lie.  If the boat was going down, He would have said, “Don’t bother with the life jackets—it won’t matter.”  They were going to the other side.  Look for and listen to Jesus.  What does He say about our circumstance? 

2). Don’t be too proud to cry out: There were pros in boat, experienced fishermen—those men were terrified. They could have hung on for dear life rationalizing away the effects of the storm, claiming they had it under control, declaring they knew the storm. Regardless of preparedness—STORMS HAPPEN. Cry out.

3). In the storm we learn the power of Jesus.  In the swirling storm, He spoke.  Jesus miraculously brought peace. The wind and waves obeyed.  The disciples were in awe, “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (v41, NLT). Invite Him to speak in our storm. Invite the Presence and power of God to stand with us.

4). Our crying out to Jesus affects others.  There were other boats out there. When the disciples cried out to Jesus, His response affected ALL on the water.  It says, “the wind died down and was perfectly calm” (v39). How we handle the storm DOES affect others.  Cry out to Jesus.

Next time we have a swirl of emotion, before we wave them off, may we take pause and consider our potential storm; Identifying what Jesus has to say about it, not hesitating due to self-reliance, but cry out—invite Him, His power to help.  Remembering, others are affected by our treatment of the storm.

*I recently spoke on “Emotional Freedom” at our women’s conference, this is an excerpt from that teaching. (Click this link for part one: https://inspiredfountain.com/2022/03/13/before-you-pray-them-away/ )

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24).