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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Finding Peace In The Storm"
June 8, 2010
The storm came out of nowhere. I was out for a walk and suddenly the
heavens opened up and the rain and wind came with a fierceness I couldn't
believe. I turned around and headed home as fast as I could. The mayhem
caused by sudden storms is unbelievable. The next day I heard that a large
tree had been split in half and had fallen on a friend's house. The damages
were estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The force of nature is amazing. Once these storms begin they have to run
their course. All you can do is ride them out and pray that you make it
through. Two years ago I saw the devastation caused by a tornado. I was
visiting my parents and they took me by a school and a subdivision where
the tornado had ripped up and destroyed everything in it's path. I looked on
in awe at the devastation.
A healthy fear of the elements is a wise thing. I can understand why the
disciples panicked when storms came up as they were crossing the Sea of
Galilee. The wind and the waves could have easily toppled their boat and
they would have been swept away.
No less devastating are the storms of anger and emotion that sometimes
catch us unaware in life. One day we are cruising along and life is good.
The next day controversy swells up and tempers flare and life suddenly
becomes as fragile as a fishing boat. In a moment friendships can be lost,
relationships destroyed and the future changed forever.
The good news is that Jesus told us that when the storms of life catch us
off guard, we can call on him and he will give us peace. In the scriptures he
stilled the storm and calmed the seas. He spoke and showed that he was in
total control even in the midst of the chaos. It doesn't matter if you are
reeling from the blow of an uninvited diagnosis or the attack from someone
you considered to be a friend. Jesus will buffer the blow and calm your
heart.
Now here is the disclaimer. We have all been in situations where we called
on God to bail us out and it seemed our cries had fallen on deaf ears. Well if
you don't find the peace you are looking for then there are at least three
possible reasons.
First, the storm may have been born out of the fact that you were listening
to the wrong voice. God has an enemy who wants to mess up whatever is
good in your life. He will jump in and deceive you. He will not bring peace.
He will lead you into strife and lead you into fights with people you would
never dream of fighting. Until you turn back to God, your storms will
continue.
Second, you may have neglected to call on Jesus. It is so easy to try and
wrestle with things on our own. We may even use the tools he has given
us, like the Bible, or close friends. But if you don't involve God and invite
him into your battle, you will never have peace. Remember, it is God who
has the power, not us.
Finally, the testing may go on and force you to rethink whatever you have
been thinking. Maybe it is you who has to change what you are doing or
what you are thinking. This is the process that often leads us into
repentance. The troubles could be God's way of getting your attention. The
good news is that it usually involves grace and healing. So get on your
knees and ask his forgiveness and you will have your peace.
So is there a storm brewing on the sea you are traveling? Call on the Lord
and invite him into your boat. He will bring you peace.
God Bless! See you in Church. Cal.
June 8, 2010
The storm came out of nowhere. I was out for a walk and suddenly the
heavens opened up and the rain and wind came with a fierceness I couldn't
believe. I turned around and headed home as fast as I could. The mayhem
caused by sudden storms is unbelievable. The next day I heard that a large
tree had been split in half and had fallen on a friend's house. The damages
were estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The force of nature is amazing. Once these storms begin they have to run
their course. All you can do is ride them out and pray that you make it
through. Two years ago I saw the devastation caused by a tornado. I was
visiting my parents and they took me by a school and a subdivision where
the tornado had ripped up and destroyed everything in it's path. I looked on
in awe at the devastation.
A healthy fear of the elements is a wise thing. I can understand why the
disciples panicked when storms came up as they were crossing the Sea of
Galilee. The wind and the waves could have easily toppled their boat and
they would have been swept away.
No less devastating are the storms of anger and emotion that sometimes
catch us unaware in life. One day we are cruising along and life is good.
The next day controversy swells up and tempers flare and life suddenly
becomes as fragile as a fishing boat. In a moment friendships can be lost,
relationships destroyed and the future changed forever.
The good news is that Jesus told us that when the storms of life catch us
off guard, we can call on him and he will give us peace. In the scriptures he
stilled the storm and calmed the seas. He spoke and showed that he was in
total control even in the midst of the chaos. It doesn't matter if you are
reeling from the blow of an uninvited diagnosis or the attack from someone
you considered to be a friend. Jesus will buffer the blow and calm your
heart.
Now here is the disclaimer. We have all been in situations where we called
on God to bail us out and it seemed our cries had fallen on deaf ears. Well if
you don't find the peace you are looking for then there are at least three
possible reasons.
First, the storm may have been born out of the fact that you were listening
to the wrong voice. God has an enemy who wants to mess up whatever is
good in your life. He will jump in and deceive you. He will not bring peace.
He will lead you into strife and lead you into fights with people you would
never dream of fighting. Until you turn back to God, your storms will
continue.
Second, you may have neglected to call on Jesus. It is so easy to try and
wrestle with things on our own. We may even use the tools he has given
us, like the Bible, or close friends. But if you don't involve God and invite
him into your battle, you will never have peace. Remember, it is God who
has the power, not us.
Finally, the testing may go on and force you to rethink whatever you have
been thinking. Maybe it is you who has to change what you are doing or
what you are thinking. This is the process that often leads us into
repentance. The troubles could be God's way of getting your attention. The
good news is that it usually involves grace and healing. So get on your
knees and ask his forgiveness and you will have your peace.
So is there a storm brewing on the sea you are traveling? Call on the Lord
and invite him into your boat. He will bring you peace.
God Bless! See you in Church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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