Confession in the Storm

When turmoil seems to rule 
like waves surging high 
to crash, foaming— 
and you, Lord, seem to be asleep— 
fear also rises 
and takes control of our thoughts.

We hear the rage of the storm.
We feel the cold wind pierce
and chill our hearts,
icicle spears that do not melt.
We run to you,
crying out for you to act now!

Your response is rebuke:
Why are you afraid?
And you act. 
You reign over the storm
even when we fail you,
doubting your power, cringing.

Reminder: trust the King of the world!
The waves will calm, at least
in the view
of those with eyes glued
on him. He is in the boat with us!
We know he will do his thing!

It’s normal for fear to rise in reaction to surroundings that are in upheaval and out of your control. Are you feeling like that when you read the daily headlines? Or is it struggles in your workplace or your family that are wearing you thin? Is God going to intervene and calm the storm? Why is chaos continuing like this?

Once again my Jesus is reminding me that he may seem passive in the moment, but he is ultimately in control. He knows every minute what is happening, way more than I do. He knows where I am and what concerns me. My part is to trust his goodness and his sovereignty. The storm is real, but so is he, and he has purposes I cannot understand. I am not the key point in them; the world is much bigger than I am. But he hears my prayers, and says, “Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?” –just like he said to his disciples:

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mk. 4:35-41 NIV)

The disciples were not yet sure who Jesus really was, just that he had power. When the waves broke over the boat they couldn’t handle the water left behind, and they only had one person to turn to. So they did, waking him up with urgency. They still wondered why he had not already taken care of this! Did he not care about them? Jesus acted, then confronted them about their lack of faith in him. They were not yet ready to trust his character, to believe that he really considered their well-being to be important.

How about me? I know him and who he is. I have the rest of the story! I must remember to let him be the one in charge of the storm. He will accomplish his plan in his timing. Meanwhile I must also remember who I am in the scheme of things, and do my part by participating in keeping the boat afloat in whatever way he tells me to: loving my neighbor, speaking truth in love, sharing his light in darkness, going where he says to go.

And praying! Did you notice that Jesus did not act until the disciples begged him? That had to be a learning curve for them. He wants us to bring our requests, desperate or normal, to him at all times. We are then participants in what takes place as a result!

We must also bring our concerns to him and let him carry them.

 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:7 NIV)

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV)

Can we give thanks as well, every time we pray?  Yes, if we remember that he is always listening, that we can trust him to do what is right, that he is all-powerful. Let’s thank him for that! And then there is that key point: he actually cares about me and you, and takes care of us. He loves me; he loves you! He can be depended on to carry us through whatever storm we are in, doing it his way and in his timing. Of course then I think about the times when, in spite of prayer, a Christian is persecuted and even loses their life. But their faith stood firm—what a witness that is!  Or we don’t see the answer we hoped for, not in our time span. That is when trust in God’s character and sovereign plan is essential. We are truly part of a much larger purpose, and we do not have access to all the fine print.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; ² for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

 ⁴ Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

 ⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret— it leads only to evil. ⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. (Ps. 37:1-11 NIV)

Our part is to trust Yahweh’s love and goodness and do the good he tells us to do. He is indeed in the boat with us! With him we can weather the storm!