Are You Facing a Storm?
Are you facing a storm? And are you confused as to why God allowed such a storm to come your way? It is normal to ask ourselves: what did I do wrong? Is God mad at me? But Scripture approaches the matter differently. Storms can be sent into our experience because we did something right. In other words, it can be obedience to Jesus’ leadership that brings the storm into our lives. So, take hope.
Storms of Correction
God sends us two types of storms. God sends us storms like He did to Jonah: a storm designed to put us back on track when we refuse to do what we may find unpleasant. Jonah was a racist and God’s call to proclaim repentance to the (Assyrian) Ninevites did not sit well for a racist. Jonah wanted God to nuke ‘em. But God had other ideas for the Ninevites, early ANE terrorists. God wanted to show them mercy. Jonah wanted them dead. So, Jonah ran away from such a call. And in response, God sent a storm of correction to put Jonah back on track. But racists die hard. Read Jonah and weep.
Storms of Perfection
But God also sends us a second type of a storm. Jesus led his disciples into such a storm (Luke 8:22-25). They followed his lead and ran smack into a gale force type of hurricane on Lake Galilee. Jesus wasn’t correcting them. The disciples had simply obeyed Jesus’ call to follow him. They followed. The storm hit them with raging energy.
It was a storm, not of correction, but a storm of perfection. Jesus used the storm to perfect their faith in his spoken word and to drive out their fear. But they failed to pass the test. They flunked. They were terrified. But one positive result of their failure was that it put them into a position to ask the right question about Jesus: Who is this?
Are you facing a storm? What type of storm is it? A storm of perfection or a storm of correction (Jonah)? Either way, Jesus had good in store for those who want to grow through the storm.
Tomorrow morning at Redeemer Bible Church, we examine two encouragements for all of Jesus’ followers who are facing storms. Are you facing a storm? Join us at 10:30 am.
Thank you for reading.