[The following is adapted from my devotions at the arts camp last month.]
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me;
when the storms of life are raging, stand by me;
when the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea,
Thou who rulest the wind and water, stand by me.
(Charles Albert Tindley, public domain)
Check out this painting:
Rembrandt: “Storm on Galilee“
Jesus did a lot of teaching about life. He never said we wouldn’t have trials or struggles, but he said that God would always be with us.
Do you remember the story in the Bible where Jesus told his disciples to get into the boat because they were going to the other side? Then what happened? He went to sleep, the storm stirred up, and the disciples got scared.
Look at that picture of the storm; it looks pretty awful – waves, fear in their faces, etc. The disciples look like they are hanging on to the boat and its ropes because they aren’t sure they are going to make it.
These were experienced fishermen and people used to storms on the Sea of Galilee. But this storm must have been particularly strong because they were frightened. Not just “ought-oh” frightened, but scared enough to wake Jesus up from sleep.
Do you remember what he’d told them?
That they were going to go to the other side. HE knew the destination. HE knew the plan.
He was secure and focused on what they were doing. He wasn’t afraid of the storm because he knew the Father was with him, and he knew that God always works things out in good ways for those who love him.
But the disciples didn’t understand that yet.
They were freaking out with fear.
What did Jesus do? He woke up and said “peace, be still” and the storm quit entirely.
That would have been something to watch, huh?
If you have a “storm” in your life right now, I invite you to draw your own picture of it. Put your name on the boat and the name of the storm (“lonliness,” “grief,” “sickness,” etc.) on the storm. But I also want you to put something in that shows where Jesus is in that storm. Maybe he’s a bird (the Holy Spirit), or light coming in the clouds, or a giant hand holding up the boat. Wherever you put him is up to you, but remember that in any storm, Jesus is there with you.
God, you are our refuge and strength; and ever-present help in times of trouble. Thank you for your Presence when we experience the “storms” of life. Thank you that when we cry out to you, you hear us and bring us out of distress. Help us to be people who do not fear, no matter what, but trust you to lead us, guide us, and stand by us. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:28-30 NIV)
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV)