Stormy Weather

We just made it through a very stormy night. We were in a level 4 risk out of 5. Watching the news this morning, we dredged the bullet on this one, with damage both South and North of us.

The disciples in Jesus’ day found themselves in a storm. My pastor recently preached on this and pointed out that Jesus sent them across the lake, but that Jesus knew the storm was brewing.

I’ve wrestled a lot over the years with the head knowledge of faith and how God can allow it, or does He cause what we go through. Spoiler alert: I still don’t know for sure.

Here is what I know though. You can claim to believe. You can claim to know how good God is. You can claim to know whatever, but knowing, really knowing takes going through the opposite of what you claim. Let me explain.

I’ve always believed and “knew” that prayer worked, that it was useful and that it mattered. I would offer to pray for someone and would occasionally remember to do so. I knew it in my head, but had never thought I needed it.

Then a diagnosis with cancer hit me. My family, my friends and my co-workers started praying. Other churches put me on their prayer lists. Suddenly, it seemed that our whole town knew. I’m about eight years out now, and occasionally, there are still people who tell me they are praying for me.

I’m convinced that there were some very earnest prayers lifted on my behalf. I don’t know if God sent cancer, but I suspect He did not. Could He have stopped it? Sure, but what lessons did I learn through it?

That is what I chose to take away from that part of my journey. I learned that prayer really does matter and now, I make reminders on my phone or take some other step to remember when someone else needs a prayer.

Storms force you to take action immediately, whether they be physical, spiritual or otherwise. A sudden diagnosis, job loss or other storm of life will force you to take stock of your life. It will force you to decide. It will teach you a lot too, if you’re willing to see what you can learn, what you need to change or how much you can grow through it.

Belief, prayer, growth, faith or integrity can all be a possible outcome of making it through the storm. Welcome to the calm seas after your storm or hang in there, there is calmer seas ahead. Find the lesson! Find a reason for it!