Storms of life

At last night's Youth Worship service, Tina Mine spoke a powerful message about encountering sudden storms in life. It's funny how as you mature in your walk with God, you can find new meanings or new interpretations on scripture. A story you read many times before all of a sudden take one new meaning for you because you're at a different stage in your life. Or a speaker points out a perspective you had never thought about.

Such was the case with last night's service. She discussed the story of Jesus and His disciples encountering a sudden storm on a boat. All the disciples were scared while Jesus kept on sleeping. Two things Mine emphasized was first, the storm came about suddenly. It's a perfect metaphor for the "storms" we suddenly encounter in life. Many of our trials come about suddenly. When we least expect it, they come crashing into your world. No matter how much careful planning we put into our lives, trying to plan and control every aspect, there are times when sudden storms hit us.

The second part of the story she emphasized was that Jesus was in the boat when the storm hit. She said that Jesus is always in our boats when we are rocked with the storms of life. It doesn't mean we don't get wet. The disciples were soaked. It doesn't mean that we won't be afraid. The disciples were very afraid. But it does mean that it will be all right. He may not always calm the storm. Just His presence in a storm has a calming affect on us. He has a plan for that storm. There is a purpose why we are going through that particular storm. She left us with this statement: If He guides, He will provide. If He points, He will anoint. If He leads, He will feed. Whatever direction God has for us, He will provide a way for us to see it through. What ever storms He sees us through, He will guide us. There is a purpose for everything. Even storms.