He Will Keep You In the Midst of the Storm!

As Hurricane Sandy approached the East Coast in late October, Captain Robin Walbridge had a decision to make. He could leave the ship, the Bounty, in the harbor at New London, where it would be tossed back and forth by the storm and would presumably sustain serious damage. Or he could try to save the ship by taking it out into the Atlantic, thereby putting his life and the lives of his 15 crewmembers on the line.

Walbridge wanted to save his ship. A ship versus 16 human lives. How can such a decision be explained?

It wasn't just any ship that he had under his command. Walbridge was the captain of the Bounty, a replica of the most famous sailing vessel in seafaring history, and a treasure of the Hollywood world. Legendary films like "Mutiny on the Bounty," starring Marlon Brando, and "Pirates of the Caribbean," with Johnny Depp, had been made on board the Bounty. A legend like that can't just be left at the mercy of the weather.

He set out to sea to ride out the storm -- a decision which ended in disaster. He lost the ship, a crewmember and his own life.  -Spiegel Online International, November 29, 2012, Marc Hujer and Samiha Shafy

In this passage of Scripture (Matthew 14:22-33), we find the disciples of our Lord trapped in the grip of a fierce storm. They find themselves in that storm, because they have been commanded by the Lord to cross the Sea of Galilee, (Matthew 14:22). These men are in the will of the Lord and yet, we see them struggling against the storm. Try as they might, however, it appears that they are unable to make any headway. The wind is in their faces, (Matthew 14:24). These 12 men are stuck in a storm and are unable to get out.

Have you ever found yourself in that place? Have you ever found yourself stuck in one of life's storms, and no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, it seems that you can't make any headway? Well, we all have times like that! It might seem to you like the storm will never end; and that there is no possible good that can come from what you are facing. Thankfully, however, there is some good news for us from the word of God.

In this message, I want to show you that the storms of life contain some hidden blessings for the children of God. I do not know what kind of storm you are facing today, but I do know that the Lord has a purpose in allowing that storm to rage in your life. Perhaps that purpose will become clearer as we continue on.

Matthew 14:25 tells us that storms are God's means of transportation. In other words, the very thing the disciples feared. the sea, was the very thing the Lord used as the vehicle to reveal Himself unto them. He will do the same in your life and mine.

Jesus comes in the face of darkness; in the face of disaster; and on the face of the deep. The Bible says that Jesus came to them in "the fourth watch". Sometime between 3 AM and 6 AM, during the darkest hours of the night, Jesus came walking on the water!

You may be walking in darkness today and wondering where Jesus is. You may be facing some of the darkest days of your life right now. Let me remind you that our God is ever with you, (Hebrews 13:5)! Let me remind you that even in the darkest hours of life God is still God and He is still in control of your life.

Think about it! The disciples were in a fight for their lives. Mark 6:48 says that they were "toiling in rowing". That is, they were struggling against the storm. I get the impression that these men were afraid for their lives. When they thought all hope was gone and that they were doomed, Jesus came walking on the waves!

I know that there are times when we all feel like we have lost the battle with our storm, but may I remind you that just as surely as the Lord is in control of your blessings, He is also in charge of your storms? When things look the bleakest, just look around, Jesus is about to show up!

Remember, He may not keep you from going into the storm, but He will keep you in the midst of the storm! Think of the 3 Hebrews, Daniel, and Noah. God did not prevent any of these from going into the storm, but He saved them all in the midst of their storm. What He did for them, He will do for you!

The very thing the disciples feared, the raging sea, was what God used to come to them. Sometimes it is hard to imagine the Lord bringing any good out of what you are going through. But, the storms of life have the potential to reveal the Savior to us in a way we may have never considered before. What a testimony this was! He was not telling them that the storm was not fierce, He was telling them that He was greater than the storm!

In conclusion, that is still His word to you today. Regardless of what you are facing in life, remember that Jesus is greater than that storm you may be facing. If you will be patient and wait for Him, He will show up right on time. You will see that the storm was used by the Lord to make Himself clear to you. The very thing you fear will be what He uses to show up in your life!

Scripture: Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 9:9-10; Psalm 138:3; Isaiah 12:2; Jeremiah 16:19; Jeremiah 32:27; Luke 12:25-26; John 14:27

Prayer: Heavenly father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. There are times when I fell helpless, there are times when I feel weak. I pray for hope. I need hope for a better future. I need hope for a better life. I need hope for love and kindness. Some say that the sky is at it’s darkest just before the light. I pray that this is true, for all seems dark.

I need your light, Lord, in every way. I pray to be filled with your light from head to toe. To bask in your glory. To know that all is right in the world, as you have planned, and as you want it to be. Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory. In your name I pray, Amen.

May God bless you always!

Sandra