Facing the Storm
Posted by Dion Todd April 30th, 2023 2,796 Views 0 Comments
Facing the Storm from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
We live on the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, less than ten miles from the Atlantic Ocean, as a bird would fly. I was born here. For us, from late August through November, it's hurricane season. Technically, it runs from June 1st to November 30th, but the storms I remember most land in September.
Hurricane Hugo came onshore the night of September 21st, 1989, with 135 mph sustained winds and a 20-foot storm surge. I remember how dark it was that night and the wind howling. You could not remain on your feet if you stepped outside. Big unstoppable storms like that are scary, even when you are in a house on land.
When I went out the following morning, it was surreal. A tobacco barn was in the middle of the highway here, like it had been picked up and dropped there. Houses were sitting in the middle of Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. The seawater had flooded the lower floors of all the hotels and brought some of the furniture out with it. All the power lines were down, and we were without electricity here for over a week. I can relate to how scary violent storms can be.
Many of the Apostles of Jesus were fishermen. The inner three, Peter, James, and John, were partners and owned fishing boats. We know that Jesus preached to the crowds from Peter's fishing boat. The Sea of Galilee, where they earned their living, is famous for violent wind storms that sweep down from the surrounding mountains. They come on suddenly, and the wind drives the waves before it.
Even though the disciples were seasoned fishermen, they were times when they were scared. They were on the sea in a small boat, in the dark of night, the wind howling and waves breaking over the sides, and the boat was filling with water. To die like that was probably a fisherman's greatest fear.
In Mark chapter 4, Jesus was teaching about the Kingdom of God and growing in faith:
(Mark 4:30–32 NKJV) Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
The mustard seed starts small, but it grows into a tree. Yet, it needs certain things to make it grow, like sunlight and water. So does our faith. Faith without works is dead, and dead faith will get you nowhere. So look what Jesus did for His disciples after He was done teaching.
(Mark 4:35–37 NKJV) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the back of the fishing boat on a pillow, allowing them to "deal with it." Those nights are where the rubber meets the road, faith in action. It is time to name it and claim it. Oh, so when the winds start howling, you don't actually believe that? No, they freaked out. Faith has left the building, or in this case, the boat. I can relate. That had to be a terrifying experience, and I would have been one of the first to wake Jesus up: "Lord, the boat is sinking..."
(Mark 4:38–40 NKJV) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
They had been tested. Jesus had just taught them about growing; now, they took an exam. Faith is not about words. It's about believing in something or SomeOne enough to take action. To be a better person because you want to please Him more than yourself. That is faith.
This time, Jesus had started them out with training wheels. He was asleep in the back of the boat if they needed Him, just a call away. He pushed them forward and gave them the opportunity to face the storm, stand their ground, speak to the wind, or cover in fear and scream, "We're all gonna die!" They chose the latter.
A few chapters later, we find Jesus feeding five thousand men, accompanied by women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. It was an incredible, faith-building miracle for the disciples who passed out all that food and knew where it came from, and they picked up twelve baskets of scraps when the people were full.
(Mark 6:44–46 NKJV) Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
Jesus immediately MADE His disciples get into the boat and sail across the Sea of Galilee. Let's go, miracle workers! Instead of going with them this time, He went to the mountain to watch and pray. I like to think He was praying for them, knowing what was coming. We know that Jesus occasionally prayed for His disciples and asked that their faith would not fail during tests (Luke 22:32).
(Mark 6:47–48 NKJV) Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.
In the evening, Jesus saw them straining against the wind. John 6:18 tells us that "the sea arose because a great wind was blowing," and the author John was in the boat that night. Yet, Jesus waited until the fourth watch of the night, about 3 to 6 AM in the morning, before He went out to them.
(Mark 6:48–52 NKJV) Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.
Again, the wind blew until Jesus made it stop, but this time the disciples faced the storm head-on and continued to row against it for hours until Jesus came and relieved them. The Apostle Peter even got out of the boat and walked on the water with Jesus!
Each time, Jesus allowed the disciples to be stretched a little farther. He pulled them out of their comfort zone. The first time He was in the boat with them. The second time, He watched them from a mountain and prayed.
While praying about this message, I saw a furious storm, hurricane level, raging across an island with people clinging onto bent palm trees. Their legs were waving behind them like a flag in the wind. The storm had been increasing in strength for a while and blowing harder. Some were beginning to slip and only holding on by one arm or a few fingers that were slipping off one by one. Then the Lord shouted, ENOUGH! There was complete peace, and it was quiet. The storm instantly vaporized. The test was over. Many have been battling a storm, but it is about to come to an abrupt end.
The Spirit says: "Do you not know that I care? Do you think I cannot see what you are going through? Though the storm rages, you will be standing when it is gone. For I open doors that no man can close, and no one can snatch you from My hand."
You can pray this with me if you like:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for taking care of me. I pray that You guide me and speak to me in a way that I can understand. Please make what is important to You important to me, and deliver me from this storm. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!