Weathering the Storm

This post is framed by bookends.  The first photo is of sunrise over the school here.  The last photo is of sunset on the same day.  

Life here has so much beauty, and so much struggle as well.  

The other week we had a huge storm.  The wind was so strong it was impossible to stand up strait as we walked around the village.  We had to lean way over to walk or else you would be tipped over by the wind. That night I thought the door was going to blow off of it’s hinges. 

In all actuality- this kind of gale force wind is normal here.  We were told it will likely happen again soon.  During the night the wind blew so hard that there was flooding.  I told a friend, “the bay blew in.”  She laughed.  Still- this is an adequate description of what happens.  

Anyway- that evening I had a difficult time sleeping.  Although there is no thunder or lightning here- the winds are amazing.  All I could think of as I lay in bed was how Christ slept in the bow of the boat during the storm.  His disciples came down to wake him… 

To wake him!  

Christ had perfect rest in his Father as he slept.  

Matthew 8

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

How many times do I wonder…  Lord!  Wake up!!!   I am drowning down here…  Come on… 

And how often does Christ reply to me, “You of little faith…  why are you afraid?”

Then I think, of Christ who had perfect peace in the midst of the storm resting in the Father.  How many times does the word tell us not to fear, not to grow weary, but to find strength in the Lord?  This is the strength I need in the midst of the storm, the peace of understanding that the Father has a plan to work all things out for my good.  

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)