Hunker Down!

Today's Story

(Image courtesy of Google Images) Growing up in California, I always wondered why anybody would live in a place that had seasons (i.e. regular, sustained periods of time) for things like tornadoes and hurricanes!  Of course, the argument I consistently got from the "other side" was, "how can you live in a place that has earthquakes?!"  And, of course, after 25 years of living in California, God (and his crazy sense of humor) sent me to live in Alabama - the land of tornadoes and hurricanes!  I remember it was just weeks after moving that Hurricane Ivan hit!  In the days leading up to the storm, every news channel on television warned me of the impending storm and the certain destruction that was heading our way.  "The eye is heading straight for us and it's only going to get worse!" came the threats of one weatherman.  "Hunker down and get in your safe place!"  I remember going to the local Walmart for a few "emergency supplies," only to find the shelves eerily empty.  It was like Y2K all over again.  I begged my husband to board up the windows and for days I, anxiously, piled bottles of water, pillows, and cans of food in our bathroom (we had no basement to run to!).  I was certain this storm would be the death of me and nobody, not even my calm, experienced (he grew up living in these storms!) husband could do to convince me otherwise!  Of course I prayed . . . I prayed like crazy!  And, in my prayers, I scolded and questioned God for sending me to such a place.  "Why, God?  Why would you send me here only to die in a horrifying hurricane?!"   

God's Story

Luke 8:22-25 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."  So they got into  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." 

What does today's story and God's Story teach us about trust? Jesus' disciples obviously cared about him and even trusted him.  I mean, these are men who left everything they had to follow him, of course they trusted him . . . at least, until the storms came.  Once those waves started crashing, though, sending water pouring into the boat, and rocking it violently from side to side, fear took over and they panicked.  They believed that Jesus was unaware of their danger and they had second thoughts about his plan to be out on the water during the storm.  However, in an incredible, miraculous act, Jesus proved himself once again.  Jesus spoke and the storm settled.  It was then that the disciples realized how little trust they'd placed in Christ; when things got dicey and the storm hit, their fear was greater than their faith.  

My Story
How can I connect today's story and God's story to my life?  Well, I guess it's obvious that I didn't die that fateful day; no, Hurricane Ivan was not the death of me.  In fact, the day before the eye of the storm was "scheduled" to hit our town, Ivan lost strength and then changed directions.  We did get some rain and maybe even a little hail, but I have to admit, as I looked out at the "storm," I felt a little silly for how anxious and dramatic I'd been.  I wonder how silly the disciples felt after Jesus calmed their storm and they realized just how powerful and in control Jesus really was.  How often do you psych yourself up for what you think is going to "be the death of you?"  How often do you let your fear overcome your faith?  How often do you forget that God truly is Sovereign . . . that all He has to do is say the word and all creation obeys?! The disciples were never in any real danger because Jesus was always there, but they'd lost their focus and forgotten who Jesus was.  When the storms hit, if you've ever lived through a hurricane or tornado, you know that the only way to survive is to "go to your safe place and hunker down."  As Christians, when the storms of life hit, we, too, must go to our safe place and hunker down . . . we must cling to our faith, hold on for dear life, and trust that God is fully aware of our storms and, no matter what the damage, He is still in control - even the winds and the water obey His commands! 

Their Story
How can I connect today's story, God's Story, and my story to my friend's story? 1) Start a conversation with your friends about fear and things that make them fearful.  Share the story about Jesus calming the storm and use it as a springboard to talk about how God is in control of everything and, with God, there is no need to fear.  2) Pray for opportunities to talk to your friend about the "storms" that he/she has gone through or may be going through.  Share how you've made it through the tough times in your life and how your faith has gotten you through. 2)  Look for ways to encourage your friend and help him through a tough time. Pray for him - that God would reveal Himself and His Sovereignty to your friend in the midst of his storm, in the same way Christ revealed himself to the disciples.