There are many connections that the Bible makes between creation and the Christian’s life. One of the repeated connections is between great trials or difficulties and powerful storms.
Isaiah says that God is a refuge from the storm and compares the assault “terrible ones” to “a storm against the wall” (25:4). One of the most famous instances was in an actual storm, in Mark 4, when the disciples were terrified for their lives in the midst of a storm. Jesus soon rebuked the winds with his words, “Peace, be still.” Although this was an actual storm, many have seen the parallels between that storm and having faith in Jesus during trials. Job went through a horrific trial, and he described the feeling as if God was breaking him “with a tempest,” which is another word for storm (9:17).
Everyone has seen storms in real life. You might think of blizzards with freezing temperatures and so much wind and snow that you can barely see. Or you might think of terrible natural disasters, like hurricanes, tornados, and hailstorms. But the storm I want you to think about is a thunderstorm. Picture yourself out on a lake or ocean in a small boat. Sit back and imagine the ominous, black clouds that blot out the cheerful rays of the sun. Feel the warm summer winds start to whip the once-still waters into threatening whitecaps. As your boat starts to rock and waves come over the side, the rain starts to pour and the full fury of the inclement weather descends upon you. The thunder drowns out your cries for aid, and the bright flashes of lightning show you nothing but the deep trouble you are in.
At times, that is how our lives feel. What once was a smooth summer cruise has quickly turned into a nightmare. We realize that we cannot control anything that is happening. As soon as we recognize that things are not going to plan, emotions start to quickly cloud our judgment. Panic. Frustration. Anger. Worry. Similar to being in the midst of a raging thunderstorm on a dingy, we are now overwhelmed.
As Christian sailors, we have three options. The first option is the easiest, but it is also the most foolish. We are seeing and hearing a bad situation, so we squeeze our eyes shut and cover our ears. Then we jump over the side into the water. In life, we may do this in response to the storms we face. A cancer diagnosis. The death of a loved one. Abuse. Temptation. We see these things happening to us and think, “Nope. I’m not going to deal with that right now.” So, we turn to distractions. Unfortunately, we live in a world that promotes such distractions. Some distractions are inherently sinful, like drugs and pornography. Some, like work and exercise, become sinful when they become our primary focus in life. This option never solves the problem. You cannot weather a storm by jumping into the water. Sooner or later, we start to drown in our distractions. They become the only thing that is important to us. Family, friends, and God fall by the wayside in our pursuit of more distractions. But even though we forsake God, He will never forsake us. Once the distractions stop satisfying – and they always do eventually – He comes to us and gets us back in the boat, often with the help of other saints. Christians, I know this route is a tempting one, but trust me, it only brings suffering and pain to you in the long run.
Your second option is to examine your bleak surroundings and let your emotions get the better of you. Your plan had been to take a sunset cruise, and now your plan is ruined. You get angry. You rant and rage and spew forth any and every pent-up emotion that you feel inside. Once you have exuded all that anger, you realize that the storm has gotten even worse. Worries grip your mind, and soon you are in a full-blown panic. As you hyperventilate into a paper bag, God is the furthest thing from your mind. That is the main problem with the first two options. God is never even a passing thought. The main reason you were angry is because things didn’t go according to plan, your plan. You never took into account God’s plan. If you had remembered that God is in control of all things, you might not have worried and panicked. And if you had thought about how God wills all things for the good of his people, you might not have been so upset about your ruined sunset cruise. The same concept applies to our lives. We all have a plan for our lives, and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is wise to plan ahead for the future. But sometimes, when God’s will introduces a storm into our lives, we are confused, angry, and worried. How will I complete college with a cancer diagnosis? How will I afford a house with inflation rising so quickly? How will I ever have a family now that my girlfriend broke up with me? These storms may seem impossible to traverse, but option three shows that with God, anything is possible.
Option three is the wisest and most difficult option. You must resist the urge to jump ship and seek comfort among distractions. You must also resist the urge to throw a temper tantrum and have a panic attack on deck. Instead of looking at the waves or not looking at all, look up. It may seem hard, but take some time to see God’s handiwork in the storm. He is the God of the thunderstorm, and He is the God of whatever storm of life you are going through. Pray to Him. Find in Him all manner of strength, comfort, and joy. Indeed, it is possible to have joy in the midst of life’s storms. Now that you are calm and at peace with God’s will, examine your surroundings. Sometimes, there is an obvious path through your trial. Sometimes, the path is obscured for a time. But if God has directed you into a storm, He will also provide an escape. You look around while you bail out water. This is the same as watching and praying. Maintain your spiritual life while awaiting God’s will. After a particularly long lightning strike, you notice that the shore is only 20 feet away. The wind dies down a little while you paddle to the beach, and as you feel the sand brush the bottom of your little boat, you thank God for guiding you safely to shore.
Storms come in every shape and size in our lives. Sometimes you may go through all three options multiple times. But keep coming back to God as He keeps coming back to you. Lean on God. Lean on friends, family, and fellow saints. God is often pleased to use them. And remember, even when things look like they could not get any worse, God is right there. He knows the path of each raindrop, the brightness of each lightning bolt. And He knows you, His blessed covenant child. As great as those waves around you seem, His waves of grace are oh, so much greater! He will guide you safely to shore.
Max Holstege
Young Calvinists 