The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (Rembrandt 1633)
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It doesn't take Doppler radar to reveal the storms in our lives. Apart from global terrorism and local violence, every family experiences turmoil: mismatched expectations, needy relatives, rebellious children, mounting debt, sudden unemployment, perplexing choices, beginnings and endings full of uncertainty. Yes, we are "battered by the waves . . . for the wind (is) against" us (Matthew 14:24).
Today’s readings depict three giants of our faith in great perplexity. The prophet Elijah has a price on his head and is convinced he’s the only one in Israel who’s still faithful to God. Peter starts out bravely toward Jesus, then loses his focus and finds himself drowning. And Paul, thoroughly steeped in his Jewish faith, laments the fact that most of his kinsmen are turning their backs on God’s perfect way of salvation. Who among us doesn’t feel isolated at times? Who doesn’t have an unbelieving relative who prompts us to echo Paul’s cry, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” (Romans 9:2).
Walking toward Jesus. Recognizing our storms is easy. It’s much more difficult to recognize our Master, who beckons to us across those waves. In the half-light, his presence may even terrify us. We…
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I often get distracted by the immensity of problems/challenges instead of immediately laying them at the feet of Jesus. It is quite refreshing to reminded of the fact that i needn’t lose hope no matter the situation but re-focus on He who has the whole world in his Hands!
Great article! I often get frustrated or depressed in the middle of my “storms”. Why? Because I try to calm the storm myself instead of turning to the Almighty. I try to take control of the situation and fix it myself instead of asking the Lord to guide me through the storm. I know God is in control of every situatioin, but yet I often find myself whining, moaning, and blaming others. Please forgive me Jesus! Let me turn to you in the mist of troubling situations...help me to pray before, during, and after the storms and to look toward you and seek you always...and not only in the storms, but in the gentle breezes too. Amen!
Like Peter, I begin to walk to God, then faullter somehow. I begin to fall, sometimes very close to drowning. Yet, God always finds a way to catch me, to turn my walk back to Him. Sometimes, I’ve fallen farther than at other times; however, I never completely drown because God’s grace returns me to the surface.
Lord, I pray to remain firm in my trust of You, to grab Your Hand sooner when I begin to fall, to turn back to You so completely that, one day, I’ll never fall again.