Sleeping in the Storm

Y’all, life feels a little unsettled right now, huh? I mean every time I turn around there is a new notification with the latest information or update on the virus that is gripping our nation with fear. Please hear my heart – I am not, at all, implying the threat or harm is not real. I am very aware of how real and dangerous it is. Our family is taking the appropriate precautions all while trying to maintain some normalcy and balance for our kiddos.

For the last three nights our youngest has watched the clock pass midnight. He craves structure and struggles when the “norm” is disrupted. As he walked into our bedroom last night at 11:50 I knew he was having a hard time processing all the “stuff”. He knows very little about what is going on outside our four walls, but he is very intuitive. I acknowledged that what he feels is normal because mom is feeling some of the same things. So last night he camped out beside our bed. He needed the space to express his feelings and the reassurance that mom and dad are close.

I love the story of Jesus calming the storm when he and his disciples were on the boat. The story is recorded in Matthew 8, Mark 4 and Luke 8. My favorite version is Luke 8:22-25. Jesus tells his disciples “Let’s get in a boat and go across to the other side of the lake.” (TPT) You probably know how the story goes. Jesus falls asleep and suddenly a big storm arises – a fierce wind that threatened to swamp their boat is the description. The disciples wake Jesus saying “Master, Master, we’re sinking! Don’t you care that we are going to drown?” It says with great authority Jesus rebuked the storms and immediately the water became as smooth as glass. Then…then (this is the good part) Jesus says “Why are you fearful? Have you lost your faith in me?” Y’all! They had THE Prince of Peace with them IN the boat and they were afraid. WHY?? Because they were looking at what was going on around them. They were not trusting in who was with them.

Friends, I know this is scary. Things seem to be changing so quickly – almost hourly. BUT we have two choices. We can choose to live in fear or we can choose to live in faith. We are choosing to live in faith. You see, I lived in fear so long that I absolutely refuse to go back into that place. Fear will not control me…or my family. We know God is good. We know He is our protector, our provider, our everything. We are having to choose faith daily. I’ll be honest – sometimes I have to choose it multiple times a day. Especially when the news is non-stop.

If it feels like Jesus is sleeping during the storm, don’t forget He is still on the boat. Stop looking at what is going on around you and remember who is with you. Praying for you all!