What to do when you're in a storm.

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/251c75f4/theres-a-storm-quick-take-the-wheel-no-63-acts

The phone rang, and what had been a peaceful night watching college basketball suddenly shifted . . . not peaceful at all.

And you? You looked up your results on your patient portal, and there was a note saying, 'please call the doctor's office to discuss next steps. . . urgent.'

The HR manager buzzed your extension and asked you to meet her in her office. Once you heard the word 'cutbacks', and 'I'm sorry,' the rest became a blur, racing thoughts of 'what are we going to do without my paycheck?'

Suddenly, you find yourself in a storm. As thoughts and emotions swirl, what ought you do?

We can look to Paul--in the storm of a lifetime--for the answer. Two hundred and seventy-six men are aboard ship, making their way to Rome, some of them as prisoners of the empire, like Paul. Luke describes the punishing winds that drive the ship to land on Crete, when suddenly the winds turn into a severe storm, threatening the lives of all on board. They throw over board that which they deem non critical to their mission, but still... the winds pound the boat so hard the men try to hold it together with ropes wrapped round her hull.1 

When all hope seems lost, Paul shares a word from the Lord [that he, Paul, would arrive safely in Rome] to encourage all aboard the ship, and indeed all are saved--that is, except the ship. Stop! Paul, the prisoner, takes over - encourages the men on board, reminds them to eat as they had not for two weeks! and then prays for and with them. Remarkable!

You cannot study anything about the apostle Paul's life without wanting to be like him - at least in his never-give up, never give in attitude. In all ways, Paul was an overcomer! Sign me up. As Paul looked to only One for his security - God Almighty - so must you and I.

Many years ago in a land far, far away, while in a great personal storm, I looked over at my two young children and thought, 'I cannot sleepwalk through this painful time - they will never be any sweeter, cuter or more tender. I cannot just survive this heartache... I must do better. I must maintain my joy - for their sakes!'

And so, in prayer, I came up with the mantra not somehow, but victoriously. Because really, who wants to just eke out an existence, when soaring is possible--no matter what swirls around us or even attacks us?

I determined I would not get through that time somehow . . . but victoriously.

Storms that threaten to take us down or wipe us out call forth the best in us - they require that we connect with the presence of God in our lives.

David, a man after God's own heart, wrote in Psalm 139, ­ "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I go from your presence? If I ascend into Heaven, you are

there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me." hmmm....

Do you want to be near God, and know he is near you? Heed James' words:

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.2 

Simple. Sure. So, how do we draw near? Pray; in fact, cry out to God for help!

Every time God's people "cried out" to him in the Old Testament; God heard, he came, he rescued them.

When you pray, have faith. . . expect God to act; and when He does, thank him. Oh yes, He is present in your life!

How do we experience the presence of God?

Ask Him to reveal himself to you, to make his presence known, then look for him!

Since I was a little girl, I sang this old song, "This is my Father's World. . . and to my listening ears, all nature sings and around me rings the music of the spheres. . ." How true! Listen. . . Look. O, how Nature reveals God's presence in our world. In Psalm 19, we read, "The heavens declare His glory," reminding us of his faithfulness and constancy! Notice the changing skies--glorious sunrises, cloud formations, the mysterious changing night skies. And Psalm 19? Yes,

-->>read the Word; meditate on it, marinate in its truths.

When we're in a storm, we are really assured by the presence of God, so we must refrain from activities that would "grieve" Him, that would hurt the heart of God. Our knowingly entering into sin hurts Him, and so does violating our conscience. And hey, let's be intentional about our consumption - especially that which we let into our minds.

Oh, and back to me - after all, who do I know more about than myself, my journey--including failures and victories? At the same time God gave me "not somehow but victoriously," he gave me its stronger companion ~ the precious words of my Savior, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives give I to you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”3 These words are a gift, spoken to the Lord's beloved disciples on that Passover Thursday night (that we will soon visit).

You see, Jesus alone offers true peace. While anxiety is the natural enemy of peace, it can be erased as we release our anxieties, cares and worries to the Lord.4  Give.All.To.God.

 "If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire:

  if you want to be wet you must get in the water.

  If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to,

    or even into, the thing that has them.

  They are not a sort of prize which God could, if He chose, 

    just hand out to anyone.

  They are a great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at 

    the very centre of reality.

  If you are close to it, the spray will wet you: if you are not, 

    you will remain dry.

  Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever?"5 C.S. Lewis

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.6

Understand that he knows the pain of our trials, our storms. He is right there, will help us when we are struggling, if we will look to him.

Paul does not just cower in the corner of the ship, hoping the storm will blow over. He takes the wheel... encourages the other men aboard! He gives them the hope God has given him and then leads them in prayer and gives the men strength.

Paul never loses sight of who he is and what he is called to do. We must not either.

In my encounters with people, the world over, everyone is looking for something--many have no idea what that 'something' is. But I assure you, nothing is more valuable than inner peace. And that peace can only be had once we have peace with God. He alone satiates the appetites and longings of our souls. He lifts us up from the storm and puts us on his shoulder to walk across the tops of the waves. Yeah, that's good. That's right.

This song - amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv4YGrmef90&list=RDQv4YGrmef90&start_radio=1

God's got you,

Christine,

no. 63, Acts

1 - Acts 27.22-26

2 - James 4.8

3 - John 14.27

4 - 1 Peter 5.7

5 - Mere Christianity

6 - Philippians 4.6