June 30.
A Perfecting Storm

Mark 4:37

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

He sent the multitude away and when they got in the ship, they hadn’t made it very far before a storm showed up. They were in Galilee Lake, which is eight miles wide at it’s widest and thirteen miles long at it’s longest; it’s made like a bowl. Those of you who have gone there know there are hills and pockets up in the mountains. When the cold air from the mountains comes down and collides with the warm air from the lake, it creates a storm. You can leave the shore and it can be calm and mild with a cool wind, yet in a matter of moments, you can be in a storm.

Storms can come suddenly and unexpectedly. You can be minding your own business sitting at a red light and someone can run right into you, tearing up your car that your policy lapsed on yesterday. All of a sudden you’re in a storm. You go to the doctor just to get a physical and you don’t think anything is wrong. You seem to be healthy. The doctor rushes you to the hospital and they do emergency surgery on you the same day. You got up that morning all right, but before sun down you were in a storm. You lost your job after thirty years but you’re a little too young to retire and a little too old to start a new job. You’re too young for Medicare, but too old for men to care. You’re in a storm. You kissed your spouse this morning and said, “I love you.” and they said they love you back. You thought everything was going well, but when you came home that evening, everything was gone. You discovered they had walked off and left you and took everything with them.

Storms will come. Look at the storm for what it is. The Lord allows perfecting storms to come our way. They shape us and mold us bringing spiritual maturity. You may not know the strength of your faith if you have not been in a storm. Hold on through the storm. Jesus is there!