What To Do in a Storm
For the past couple of years, life has felt like a series of storms. I’m quite certain you feel it too.
Many of these storms have been shared experiences. Covid. Racial and social unrest. Political polarization. And now, the war in Ukraine. I cried today watching a video of teary-eyed senior citizens stumbling across the rubble of a bombed-out bridge in search of safety in an unknown destination. No grandma or grandpa should ever be in that situation. It’s too much.
And yet, many of us are also facing distinctively personal storms.
Economic hardship.
Relational hurt.
Health scares.
Family conflict.
Stress at work.
I’m not sure what storm you are facing, but I’d like to share the best advice I know for what to do in the middle of a storm. I found it in John chapter 6.
To set the context, the disciples have just seen Jesus perform a spectacular miracle. He fed a crowd of well over 5000 people with just five small barley loaves and two fish, and the leftover pieces filled twelve baskets! The recipients of this meal look at one another in astonishment, but Jesus isn’t interested in their accolades. John tells us:
“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” -John 6:15
I want to invite you to put yourself in the sandals of his disciples. This man, this rabbi you have been following, just blew everyone away with a feat you’re still trying to comprehend. Then he slips out of sight, and you’re left holding a basket full of leftover miracle magic. What is your next move? What do you do?
What happens next has always puzzled me.
“When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.” -John 6:16-17
They take off without Jesus! Why didn’t they wait for him? After all, they just witnessed what he did with the loaves and fishes. Why in the world would they leave him behind?
And yet, we’re prone to this too, aren’t we? We’ve seen God do some amazing things in our lives, but in a moment when there is a lull, we can be tempted to set off on our own.
That’s usually when things go wrong.
“A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.” -John 6:18
Now, I’m not saying every storm that comes into our lives is the result of our impulsiveness and impatience. Of course not. But it’s never a good idea to leave Jesus behind.
The disciples set off without him, and now they find themselves in rough waters. They’re in the middle of a storm. They row and they row until they've gone about three or four miles. I’m sure they were exhausted. But then, in the darkness, they see a shadowy figure on the waves. It’s a man coming toward them. Understandably, they’re freaked out! But a voice they recognize cuts through the thunder:
“It is I; don’t be afraid.” -John 6:20
Can you hear Jesus whispering those words in your storm?
It is at this point that we come to the critical moment in the story. You may have thought the climatic moment just happened, but I don’t think so. I believe the most important detail is still to come. It’s what we need to do in the middle of a storm. Read this verse slowly:
“Then they were willing to take him into the boat...” -John 6:21a
I’d argue that the moment many of us find ourselves in is the space between verses 20 and 21. We’ve been rowing in the storm for many miles. We’re exhausted. Scared. There is real danger. But now that we’ve become aware of Jesus’ presence, the real moment of decision is before us.
Are we willing to take him into the boat?
The answer to that question may seem obvious, but it’s really not. So often when we’re in the storms of life, we don’t really invite Jesus in.
Sometimes we charge ahead rowing as hard as we can trying to get through it on our own.
Sometimes we try to ignore the storm, pretending it isn’t as bad as it might seem.
Sometimes we glance at Jesus out there walking on the water, but stay stuck in our anger, worry, or fear.
However, the best course of action is to take Jesus into the boat.
This can look like entering into a time of solitude and silence with him, giving him the chance to calm us with his presence.
This can look like writing to him in a journal about what happened, what we’re feeling, why we’re feeling it; giving him the chance to reveal what we do not yet see.
This can look like being vulnerable with a trusted spiritual friend, asking them to pray over us, giving Jesus the chance to work through his people.
What I don’t think it looks like is continuing to rush through life in a swirl of busyness leaving Jesus out there on the water.
Are you willing to take him into your boat?
The disciples took Jesus into their boat, and then:
“...immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” -John 6:21b
Notice, the text doesn’t say the winds died down. The storm was still raging. But with Jesus in the boat, they quickly reached the shore.
I think that happens for us, too. The storm may still be raging, but with Jesus in the boat, we reach the place of peace, the place of rest, the place of hope.
Whatever storm you are facing, know that Jesus is near.
He is whispering, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
May you be willing to pause today, to invite him in.
And let him lead you to a place of peace, rest, and hope.
It’s the best thing I know to do in the middle of a storm.
