There is a secret in the storm.
I’m not talking about a surge of menacing weather—this is a storm that’s much more personal.
It’s where the dark clouds of inward trouble surround us. A storm within—where the seas of helplessness and uncertainty beat against the soul.
Each and every one of us are encountered by a storm at some point. Storms of life, or of the soul, are part of the human experience, throughout every generation.
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)
The rain falls on the “just and the unjust.” In other words, this is God’s world. He makes the sun rise and set on every new day. And every day, to a certain extent, each one of us experiences the effects of other’s choices—whether good, or evil.
We can’t pretend to understand every storm cloud that stirs up on the horizon. In order to understand the reasons trouble comes to so many lives, we need to be able to know everyone’s personal circumstances. Only God is able to do that.
But what we can understand, at least in part, is the way that God sovereignly uses trouble—the storms—in the lives of His people.
Each and every believer, in this God of heaven and earth, is subject to every storm He chooses to utilize. And why?
Because He purposes to reveal His glory through His people.
When God places a human soul within its powerful grip, a storm can facilitate feats of faith greater than any one of us can imagine.
We have a great example of this in the apostle, Peter. He wasn’t always the great man of God that we know of today. He started out as just a common fisherman—one of many you might find along the banks of the sea. Jesus, however, had much greater plans for him. He was called—just like the other eleven key disciples—to accompany Christ, follow Him, and learn of Him.
Peter was hardly an educated man. His classroom had been a common fishing boat. His peers were the rugged men who labored beside him. But the moment Peter left everything to follow Jesus, his entire life changed. It was a whole new world—sometimes a perplexing world—of faith, and failure.
How could he know what to plan, or expect? Anything could happen on any day, with this man of Galilee in the lead.
To tag along with Jesus was to expect the unexpected, whether that was actually understood or not. There were many days where His disciples marveled at the miracles taking place right before their eyes. Little by little, they learned to grasp the scope of what they witnessed—and they learned to believe.
Much had taken place at the time we find the disciples recorded in Matthew, chapter 14. John the Baptist had just been beheaded by King Herod, and some of the disciples came and reported this to Jesus. He departed to some remote place, as He probably hoped to fall upon the Father in prayer.
But that wasn’t going to be possible right then. Not when you are the Christ.
A needy multitude soon found Him, and Jesus, being who He is, had compassion on them and healed their sick. Soon, another miracle began: the feeding of thousands of hungry people, with just a handful of bread and fish. No doubt, His disciples were stunned by the event—as they watched their Master break, bless and hand them meal after meal—for all to be filled with and strengthened by.
But just as surely as that unexpected miracle came, it was over. And for some unforeseen reason, Jesus hastened His disciples into a boat, and dismissed the crowds. Peter and the rest were on their way, across the sea of Galilee.
Finally having an opportunity to be alone for a while, Jesus purposely stayed behind to pray. But something big was building—stirring there, upon that sea.
“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 14:24)
What should have been a routine time of sailing had turned into angry winds of opposition. But Jesus knew their plight, and exactly where they were. It was well into the early hours of morning, when Jesus came out to meet them.
“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” (Matthew 14:25)
He walked out over wind and waves, as if they were solid ground. His wearied disciples, now terrified in the darkness, looked up to see a ghostly figure against the distant moonlight.
“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)
And as the winds whined through torn sails, something beyond amazing took place. As others crouched within the boat, it was Peter who was suddenly forward, and calling out through the storm.
“…Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” (Matthew 14:28b)
Jesus immediately answered Peter, “Come.”
There’s something about hearing the call of the Master, to come. The heart is drawn to come experience—and be—everything that a moment in time with Christ can mean.
“And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” (Matthew 14:29b)
Peter—full of unquestioning faith—climbed out of his shelter, and stepped firmly out onto the storm. He stepped out with his eyes fully on Jesus, and he stood upon nothing less than the sovereign power of God.
And yes—too soon, his fears would overtake him, out there within the noisy turbulence. With his eyes now on the storm, he began to sink.
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30)
“Lord, save me!” Jesus caught Peter, and pulled him up. And soon they were safely in the boat, with the storm all but gone.
And no one there would ever be the same again.
Once a simple fisherman, Peter had joined himself to his Master—the Lord of the Wind and the Waves. In faith, he had courageously stepped out onto the storm.
Is there any going back, once a life had been affected in such a way? No, never. It can only and forever go forward.
It goes forward, on a set course—with a momentum that could have never taken place, without the storm.
Storms create foreboding shadows, as clear skies turn to darkness. Happiness turns into sorrow. Confidence turns into fear.
Storms are usually something we can’t foresee. Storms can roll in suddenly, and come with a severity we are usually unprepared for.
But God—with all things within His control—sees and knows. Even when the storm whirling around us seems completely out of our control.
Life can be a mystery in many ways. But thankfully, God is our teacher—if we will listen well. His plans and purposes depend on us learning from our mistakes. Even if the lesson learned is a painful one.
“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” (Jonah 1:1-3)
Jonah had heard the voice of God, to “go.” After all, he was a prophet of the Almighty, and he was called by God to do His will and to speak His words. But Jonah imagined that he knew better than God.
What a mistake that always is.
Jonah decided not to warn the great city of Nineveh of their impending destruction, unless they repented.
You or I might question why God didn’t just allow this ungrateful servant to destroy himself. That might indeed be our kind of justice, but it isn’t God’s heart. He loves to save us—even the most ungrateful of His servants.
How precious God is—not helping to destroy anyone, but to save.
Unfortunately, Jonah had taken a different attitude toward the ungodly city of Nineveh. Jonah disregarded God’s words, and booked passage on a ship going as far away from God as possible. Now where exactly could that be, when you are running away from God?
God was neither surprised or worried.
“But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.” (Jonah 1:4)
He purposed a great wind, and sent it out onto the sea. The wind soon turned into a howling storm. It was so terrible, that the ship Jonah was hiding in was about to be broken apart. All of the ship’s crew were afraid for their lives, as each began to pray to his own particular god.
And where was the prophet Jonah? Down below, and fast asleep—blissfully ignorant of the storm raging around them. It’s funny how so many of us can heap trouble onto ourselves, out of our own disobedience or foolishness, that ends up affecting everyone else around us.
This bunch of sea-hardened sailors knew enough to call on their worthless idols for help. But Prophet Jonah, who should have been the wisest man among them, was playing the fool—running away from his God.
Somehow, somewhere, he had forgotten the true heart of his creator. Somewhere along the way, he had lost sight of the fact that God is a God of mercy. And omnipotence.
Again, God wasn’t surprised—and He certainly wasn’t worried.
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17)
He purposed a giant fish, maybe a whale—to come and provide a classroom for His student, Jonah. Because Jonah had forgotten what kind of Master he served. But he would soon remember.
God knew that those sailors—realizing that Jonah was a prophet of the Most High God of Heaven and earth—would finally be forced to throw him overboard, into a raging sea. They would then beg Almighty God to forgive them. And after Jonah was well beneath the waves—when the seas were suddenly calm once more—they worshipped and made vows to this amazing God.
For three days and nights, poor Jonah suffered within the belly of that great beast. But the lesson wasn’t wasted on God’s prophet. He soon got the message.
“Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said,
I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2:5-9)
He remembered the storm—the depths he had descended, even the seaweeds that were wrapped around him—as he sank helplessly down into the abyss. And he came to understand the blessing of his current captivity—as he found himself caught up in the great mercy of his Marvelous Creator. Almighty God, who had made all of heaven and earth, had appointed this great fish—just for him.
As he repented, he again turned his troubled heart toward God with a voice of thanksgiving. In doing so, he had chosen to step out onto his personal “storm” with God. Free from his old selfish attitudes, he proclaimed his newfound obedience.
Of course, God was hardly surprised. But He must have been very pleased. He gave that great fish a stomachache.
“And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” (Jonah 2:10)
Jonah was amazingly, completely forgiven. And it’s heartwarming to see God’s words of direction, rather than correction, to His repentant servant. The instructions were exactly as He gave them, the first time.
“Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” (Jonah 3:2)
Thankfully, Jonah arose this time, and went to Nineveh with his word from the Lord. Of course he would.
He had found his faith, and stepped out onto the storm.
Amazingly, Jonah—without God’s loving intervention—might have stayed on his rebellious course. And just as amazing, those innocent sailors—who were drawn into trouble through no fault of their own—suddenly found themselves in the middle of greatness, as they fearfully believed on the God of Jonah.
All this. Because of the storm.
The storms within us are darkness. They are fraught with fear, confusion and even agony. We fret, we fall, and we find our lowest place. And it is there, hopefully, that we discover ourselves fallen to our knees.
Our very first step up is faith. Our next step up is courage. And every step beyond that, is a step beyond ourselves. We walk toward God’s light and life—to be lifted up above the fray.
As we reach for He Who Calms the Storm.
“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.” (Mark 5:25-27)
We don’t have her name. She is simply remembered as, “the woman with the issue of blood.” Her storm, long hidden from view, secretly raged within her.
Hers was an old and angry storm. She had cowered beneath its tyranny for twelve long years. She had spent all she had, chasing down every physician she could find. They took her money, but could give her nothing in return. Over time, her torture became worse.
Considered unclean by the laws of the day, she lived the life of a shut-in. Imagine her utter loneliness, shame and despair. She had heard about Jesus—this One who could heal, and set people free. But she remained hidden there, in her storm of suffering.
Like so many troubled souls, she seemed to come out of nowhere, on the road that day. As she heard the crowds outside, she realized that Jesus would soon pass by. She made her plan. She would go out to meet Him there, right in the light of day. It would be breaking the law for her to go, but she couldn’t allow herself to care.
Her life of loneliness, pain and despair was simply not living.
The streets were now filled with people, crowded around this One who could heal. But she pressed in. As she saw Him there up ahead, He seemed so far away—so unreachable. But still, in her weakness, she pressed closer, to reach Him—to touch Him.
“For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” (Mark 5:28)
It was a faith of desperate determination. She stepped out of her weakness, and onto the storm.
She caused quite a stir as the Son of God stood still, amazed by her faith.
“And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30)
Immediately, her storm was calmed. She was healed of her infirmity. And Jesus, startled by the transaction of virtue within Himself, turned to a startled crowd to ask, “Who touched my clothes?”
It seemed like such a strange question, since the crowd pressed in on every side. But the woman knew exactly what He meant. She had felt it too. Faith had met its mark. She could hide herself no longer. Falling at His feet, she confessed her faith.
Heaven and earth had just moved on her behalf. And her Lord, knowing what had just taken place in secret, would reward her openly.
“And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (Mark 5:34)
What will you do, when your storm suddenly arises, and you find yourself overwhelmed with circumstances far beyond your understanding or control?
If you remain within yourself, and depend your own strength, you have little hope.
Your hope depends on the One who you have already put your trust in. The One who you found to be faithful in past times of weakness, or failure. The One you held onto in past storms, that raged around you.
What can any of us do, but reach out to Him who saves?
We all desperately need the Savior, to save us—in so many ways. But remember God’s purpose of the storm.
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7)
Your storms come, no matter what size or shape they might take—and your faith is tested to its limits. The storms of violent stirrings arise, to try and test the soul. Like gold, your faith is tried in the fires of purification—the heat of hardships.
As you experience crushing fear and painful desperation—or lonely, hidden darkness and despair—Jesus Christ comes to meet you.
There. In your storm. He comes to you—that you, in turn, might go out to meet Him.
He walks on the waves, out to your bashed-up boat. He looks at you lovingly. And the Master speaks His words of comfort and strength. “Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid.”
As you look at Him, and hear His voice, the winds and the waves no longer matter. Nothing else matters. You have found Him—and you have found your faith.
You bring glory to the One who brought you to your knees, as you reach to Him. He then teaches you to stand upon the storm. All in that very same moment of faith.
Suddenly, the impossible becomes the possible: you step out to stand on what otherwise would have confined you. Upheld by His power, it becomes your freedom.
Right there, in the most unlikely of places.
God’s secret meeting place—within the storm.