As a teenage driver in Michigan winters, I learned a whole lot about ice, slush, and whiteouts. When I tell my kids they NEVER canceled school growing up it is a smidgen of a lie, but not really. I remember one particular day where they decided to go ahead and let us out a few hours early as we were about to get hit with “lake effect” snow. This essentially means a whole lot of snow that forms over Lake Michigan and then dumps on either the Michigan side or the Chicago, Illinois side. Either way, you don’t want a bunch of naive, brand new driving teenagers navigating it. 

My best friend and I ventured from the school parking lot to head down the country roads toward home. Not even a mile from the school I hit a patch of ice and began sliding off the road. I calmly, who am I kidding, I yelled, “Oh my gosh!” and jerked the wheel. We now faced the oncoming traffic. Realizing it was a bad idea, I cried out again and jerked the wheel back. As we slid to our fate in what felt like slow motion, I let go of the wheel, screamed, and covered my face from the windshield that was going to shatter as we crashed into the light pole.The crash was inevitable. 

If I can be real with you, I feel like I am back in slow motion and wondering if/when I’m going to crash. 

This past week I joined countless others overwhelmed with finalizing decisions when our NC Governor announced his plans for re-opening schools. This in turn made Facebook lose its mind as everyone began arguing over what is best. 

Let me begin with this, I could have never have made this decision. I do not disagree or agree with his or our county School Board’s decisions on school. We had to make the best decision we could as a family and I felt at complete peace.

Fourteen hours later we got the news my husband tested positive for Covid. I am back in the car, trying to swerve this way and that, trying to control my anxiety and fears. 

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:22-25

Jesus 1000% knew a storm was coming, and yet he fell asleep. How many of us can say when we see a storm coming we just go to bed? Not me. When I am hungry at night I go to bed, to avoid the late night handful of M&M’s but never because I am worried about what lies ahead. Oh no, the mere thought of a storm ahead will keep me up all hours of the night. 

It is said, the Sea of Galilee was known to whip up some fierce and quick storms with little to no warning. Hmmmm… does that sound about right for you too? This perfectly describes how all the storms appear in my life. 

In Mark’s account he says, 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Mark 4:37 The boat is filling with water. They are in danger. Like my car that winter day, they were out of control. 

Maybe you, like me, feel out of control as you grapple with school choices for next year. Maybe you struggle with the unknowns of Covid or another medical diagnosis. Maybe you are drowning in debt in an unpredictable economy. Maybe you are on the brink of divorce, depression, or your kids are slipping from your grasp. 

Are you like the disciples crying out, “Master, Master we’re going to drown!”? 

Does it feel like Jesus is sleeping through your storm?

The waves ARE coming in. The boat IS filling. The danger feels very real but I am here to remind you; if Jesus is in your boat, He is not going to let you sink. The worst thing imaginable can and does happen outside of your control, but you will survive it. 

Right now I want to encourage you to make a list. Go ahead grab a pen/paper, I will wait. 

Now write down your past storms. The ones that felt small and the ones that felt big. I will help you get started with a few of my own:

• When I didn’t pass my drivers test for NC the first time I took it. (I can’t believe I am admitting this…)
• When our first born son was diagnosed and passed from a congenital heart defect. 
• When my husband refused to do something unethical for a prior job and risked being fired. 
• When a parent called the school board and had me evaluated my first year of teaching for teaching World Religions (a part of 7th grade curriculum). 
• When one of our children was diagnosed with dyslexia. 
• When another child was diagnosed with anxiety.

Now look at your storms. What was your reaction to each? Did you yell for help like the disciples did or have faith He could calm the storm?

Having faith He can calm the storm is hard. But we see in these scriptures (as well as in Mark and Matthew) that He has the power to stop it all. 

Next to them write out how these past storms resolved. Were they “me” actions or “faith” actions? The difference between a “me” action and a “faith” action is obedience. You may have had to do something for it to resolve, but was it like the disciples frantically removing water from the boat or was it prayerfully walking in obedience?

Coming into a storm reminds us where our trust lies. 

It reminds us who is in control. The day I lost control of my car on a patch of ice ended in a snowbank outside of a car repair shop. Although we both saw the light pole coming towards us, we stopped before we hit it. Conveniently the auto guys pulled us out of the snow bank with no damage to the car. 

Through every storm we must remember Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

The storms will come but with Jesus on your boat the crash is avoidable.