Are we in a storm?

When my daughter Teddy was born I let a lot of responsibilities fall to the way side. Not big things necessarily, just the regular everyday things a middle class person has to go through. For example, I paid all my taxes online the day before they were due, so I figured I was in the clear! When I went back to work, I remember the moment so clearly…I was in my office and got a call from the IRS. The kind lady on the other line was informing me that my tax payments were late and I owed a $81 late fee penalty. I petitioned that I turned my payment in the day before the due date! She responded by telling me their system takes 24-48 hours to clear those payments, therefore mine was late…

I wanted to debate further, but she was pretty nice, so I just said “ok, I’ll pay it.” Then no joke just ten minutes later my phone rings. My insurance on my car was past due by 15 days, and they needed payment for the next 6 months. That bill was $640 dollars. Then while driving home, extremely sleep deprived by the way because I had a newborn, my wife called and said the power company informed us we had 5 days till our power was shut off because I neglected to pay the power bill. It seemed like the perfect storm.

I know what you’re thinking…just put it on autopay. Well one time I was at the gym sitting in the sauna with a random old guy and he told me to never put anything on autopay because they slowly add and extra dollar or ten every once in a while. I have no idea why, but whether he was right or wrong, that totally sunk in with me and I felt like the patriot in my needed to let out a small cry of rebellion by not setting it to autopay. I should definitely forget that terrible advice.

I got home and literally let out an exhausted sigh while sitting in my car. I’m sure you’ve been there. I also know that many have faced far more pressing issues than my trivial problems, but none the less I felt the weight of them. I couldn’t stop thinking about how no matter what it is, our life always has different uncertainties pop up. Extra medical bills, unexpected payments, inflation, sickness, I could go on and on.

But it also got me thinking about a story where Jesus fell asleep in a boat with his disciples while they were crossing the lake. A huge storm came and waves were literally crashing over the boat. Jesus stayed counting sheep (classic shepherd). His disciples woke him up in a panic and said “Don’t you care we’re about to die.” Jesus stood up and told the wind and waves to shut up and be still. They did as he commanded. Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said “Why are you still afraid, do you still have no faith?” Then the boys turned to each other and said “Who is this that speaks to the storm and it listens?”

There is so much going on in this passage. Mainly Jesus demonstrating He is God and is charge of the elements. But something else sticks out to me. I heard a pastor say, “I wish the disciples would have said, ‘Who is this that SLEEPS in the storms?’” I like that. The point is that no matter how hairy things can get the character of God is Peace.

As I think about the passage and look further into what the future holds for the disciples, for Jesus, and the world I’ve come to a specific conclusion - Jesus is God, but also this:

Jesus was able to sleep in the storm because he knew that wasn’t the only storm they were going to face. That there would be more to come. And if every problem you come across becomes a crises, peace and joy will quickly be absent in your life.

God doesn’t cause storms in our life, but he does have the power to help us journey through them. As I sit here in 2022 and I scroll through socials and I look at gas prices, and I see the price of eggs, and so on, it doesn’t take me long to realize that we are probably in a storm. I could panic, and begin to ask God why He doesn’t care that we’re going down, or I could remember that there is a chance he is so stable that he might be taking a snooze. Not because he’s absent, but rather because He’s seen a storm a time or two.

I’m not minimizing the stress and anxiousness that storms beckon us into. I feel it myself. But if i’m going to admit that I love Jesus and that I am following him, then when I seeing him at peace, then I should invite him to share that posture with me.

Oh my will the storms come, but I choose to put my faith in the one who can silent them, but even more importantly I put my faith in the one you provides peace even in the midst of them.

These isn’t just a positive platitude i’m trying to cling to that I hope will make me feel better. It’s a decision to actually believe that God is God, otherwise what’s the point?