Changing Weather & Faith for Heavy Hearts
It’s easy to see why and how the weather can impact our days. In Virginia where I live, there’s a joke that we can experience multiple seasons in just one day. It may start out cold and by the end of the day you’re sweating from an increase in heat and humidity. It’s called dressing in layers and enjoying multiple summers or extended winters. It also requires much flexibility.
For a season of life, I lived in Arkansas. An area of the country well-acquainted with severe weather, particularly tornadoes. I hadn’t been there one week when I first heard tornado sirens. I spent several nights sitting in the laundry room, riding out the storms with no power. Unnerving, none-the-less. But for someone who has lived in Arkansas for many years, they may grow accustomed to severe weather and understand what to do and how not to panic. Unlike me, it was new and 100% uncomfortable.
The same is true for Floridians and hurricane season. Same for those who live in the Northeast US and handle significant amounts of snow each winter. As someone from Virginia, we normally don’t experience much severe weather or blizzards.
On one particular day, remnants of a hurricane were moving through our area. Heavy wind and rain was expected. What was not was attending the funeral of a friend. I’m aware that funerals are not ever considered “enjoyable” because of the circumstances. We found ourselves walking into the church amidst sideways blowing rain and walked out to multiple tornado warnings in the surrounding areas. A true mixture of emotions mixed with heavy weather and heavy hearts.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful that God loves us enough to give us hope. To give us that sense of faith deep in our soul that keeps us hanging on. Thankful that we serve a Savior who walks on water and calms the storm with his voice.
On that September day, in the midst of the storms around us, I was drawn to that familiar story of the New Testament. The one in which Jesus calmed the physical storm and the fear of the disciples.
Luke 8:22-25, NIV
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into the boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” He asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
I’m fairly certain that it would be absolutely terrifying to be on a boat in the middle of a storm. We don’t know exactly how strong the storm was, but we know that it was enough to terrify the disciples. This experience was also recorded in all four of the Gospels. None of us are immune to the storms of life. There will be tough seasons that we go through. Like the disciples in the boat that night, Jesus reminds us to have faith.
With Jesus in our boat, we can persevere through any season. Yes, it may be difficult. Yes, we may grieve. Yes, we can grow. But through it all, may we remember that our God is faithful and His promises are true. Because of Jesus, we can have faith to keep holding on for tomorrow.
