"Storm Warning"

Back in 1964 seven people set off in a small boat. Shortly after their trip began a storm came up and they found themselves deserted on a remote island. They ended up stuck there for three years. You May remember the story it was all over the television. There names were Gilligan, Skipper, professor, Mary-Ann, Ginger, and Mr.& Mrs, Howell the third. What began as a three hour tour becomes a three year struggle for survival all because of a storm. Or in this case a three year struggle to be funny. Gilligan’s island was a comedy (to some). But when real storms come up in real life few people go through them laughing.
There May be someone reading this who is in the midst of one of these storms. Things started great but shortly after you made a certain decision to obey Jesus Christ everything began to fall apart. Tribulation, persecution, disappointment, discouragement, a wayward or sick child, spouse, job, marriage problems, physical problems, the causes of the storms in life are endless. You say I did not ask for this and begin to wonder what is going on.
IN the Gospel of Mark chapter 4 there is a story about Jesus and his Disciples. It picks up after a hard day of ministry where we see Jesus saying to his disciples, “lets go to the other side”. Sounds like a great idea. So these men, with Jesus in the boat, set sail on a nice calm peaceful day. It was a great day for a boat ride but suddenly out of nowhere a fierce storm comes up and they begin to be fearful and panic. That is our natural reaction to storms. All of a sudden the storm becomes the center of the story, the storm becomes the center of our life - the storm becomes our focus - everything in our lives begins to revolve around the storm.
When this happens everything gets out of focus. If you had asked the disciples as they were getting into the boat to begin their trip if Jesus cared for them, they would have said absolutely. If you had asked them do you think you are going to die on this trip to the other side of the lake they would have said, no way we are safe, Jesus is here with us. But here they are in the middle of the storm waking Jesus up and and accusing him of not caring for them and afraid they are going to drown. What happened? The disciples did what so many do today, they allowed the storm to shape their theology. They allowed the storm to shape their understanding of God.
May I suggest to you today these storms are inevitable. We will all go through them. If you are not in one of these storms then one is coming but here is what we need to remember as we go through it. Instead of allowing the storm to shape our understanding of God, we need to allow our theology to shape our understanding of the storm.
God’s purposes have not changed. God’s care for you has not ended. God has a purpose in this storm.
Put your trust in God’s word. We all marvel in this story at Jesus power to calm the storm just by his words “peace be still”. But his words “lets go to the other side” were just as powerful, and just as true, but we forget them because the storm seems to be contrary to that purpose. But that was not the case. If you read the next verse after this story you see a great phrase, “when they reached the other side”.
God’s purpose was not for them to drown in the middle of the lake. God’s purpose for them was to go to the other side and they got there. God’s purpose for us is that we be conformed into the image of his Son, and that is going to happen. The storms do not mean he has changed his purpose. They are all part of the process. The storms are meant to deepen our faith and to drive us to deeper intimacy and knowledge of God and make us more like Christ. Unfortunately there are far more books being written today about storms than there are about theology. But may I encourage you today to pick up your Bible and get to know your God, hide God’s word in your heart. He is a refuge and strength a very present help in times of trouble/storms.
He does not change. He is the same yesterday today and forever. Christ is a solid foundation in a world or a life of ever changing circumstances. So keep rowing, keep trusting. Remember, sometimes he calms the storm, sometimes he gives his people the strength to keep rowing through the storm. What ever he chooses it is for your good and for his glory. You will get to the other side!