Stormy Living.

I like to separate the ideas of Jesus and storms. I like to keep them in their own box and not intermingle them. I think I like to try to trick my mind and heart into thinking that they are opposing things that don't integrate at all so that they can remain in unlinked categories which makes it easier for me to sort out my ideas about Jesus and my ideas about storms without the complicated overlap. Yeah. That's what I think. I think.

In the bible book of Mark chapter 4 verses 35 to 41 there is a story that completely obliterates my thoughts above. And the obliteration of my thoughts is actually the greatest thing that I want to write to you today. In this story, THERE IS A STORM AND JESUS IS IN IT WITH US!

Don't miss the power of this moment because I think that you're probably like me, wanting to keep Jesus and storms from being a couple in the living of our lives. It's safer and easier and less painful... theoretically. In this story Jesus is teaching us that He is there in storms. May not always seem like it or feel like it. May seem like if He is there in the storm that He's taking a nap (see the story for this true tidbit)! This story challenges our notion that God can't possibly be anywhere near something stormy or hard, else He would wake up and take charge long before the waters are even a bit choppy.

We are being invited to exercise our faith muscles here. Storms do happen AND Jesus is there in them with us.

I think we have been tricked or chosen to believe...

It's a storm, where is Jesus? He's not around. Or...It's a storm and we don't even think about Jesus. Or...It's a storm and blame Jesus.

Jesus seems to be teaching His friends in this story that storms are actually a place for faith in Him to be strengthened. And the really cool thing about that as I am writing is that our faith is growing, not while He's away somewhere for more dramatic affect in our faith learning, but He's right there in the boat with us. Our faith grows AND it's happening while He's around.

This is hard when we're in the boat and the storm is happening. But it being hard doesn't change the fact that He is in the boat with you.

Remind me of that along the way.

There's more.