I say this because we all have a different paradigm for storms. You see, I spent the first two thirds of my life in England. The British weather is legendary … but not in a spectacular way!  We have lots of wind and rain all year round but not much in the way of severe weather. It was when Jonathan & I moved to Oklahoma in 2006 that we started to experience the REAL storms. This was Tornado Valley!  The first time we heard the sirens going off in the middle of the night, we didn’t know what to do but it wasn’t long until we got used to the culture of tornado season. It was in Oklahoma that we also experienced our first Ice Storm (definitely had to live it to believe that one)!  We also traveled from Oklahoma to South America many times and this is where we experienced one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. If you add to this list Hurricane Sally that pounded the Gulf Coast in 2020, you may say that we’re pretty well experienced these days in the realm of storms.

Let’s think for a moment about the disciples who were with Jesus far out of sea when He calmed the storm. We know that at least four of Jesus’ closest disciples were seasoned fishermen who had all grown up around the Sea of Galilee and must have been physically strong and used to navigating rough seas. They’ve all had a long day, Jesus has been ministering to the multitude and now they’re all getting into the boat to cross over to the other side. This is where we pick up our story in Mark 4 v 35 – 41.

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

The disciples are in the boat and they take Jesus with them!  Very important! I’m sure we’ve all had storms that we’ve kind of brought upon ourselves, going our own way, wanting to do our own thing, not inviting Jesus to get into the boat with us. I definitely had a lot of these storms particularly in my younger years, but Our Father is so gracious that He helps us to get out of those as well.

Let’s take a look at what Jesus is doing. It seems that he is physically exhausted, He is just going to take a nap and leave it in the disciples hands to get Him where He has to go. Does He know there’s a storm coming?  Maybe or maybe not but He knows that His Father has told him to go to the other side so He can rest & enjoy the ride.

The storm intensifies and the disciples start to panic. They have no choice but to wake up Jesus and as they do we find out how they’re really feeling … “do you not care that we are perishing?” In the early days the disciples really struggle with this one – the “what about us?” question. They’ve seen all the miracles that Jesus has performed for others but here are the disciples in their hour of need and Jesus is fast asleep!

Just like the disciples, how we respond to storms will often reveal what’s going on in our hearts. God allows us to go through the storms because He has a purpose in them. If we embrace them He will always use them to remove some of the impurities out of our hearts, to increase our faith and to help us to become more like Christ.

Let’s turn our attention to some strategies to help us navigate the storms.
Allow God to Speak in the Storm – just like Jesus did.
Last year we were preparing to go back to England for the first time in five years, it was our first big trip since Covid and like it did for many of us, life had taken on a new normal. Trans-Atlantic travel meant that we had to leave our sweet Luna behind and as I dropped her off somewhere in the middle of Baldwin County, she wasn’t the only suffering from separation anxiety. I could feel the flood waters starting to rise, to try and rock my boat with worries and concerns. Then I heard the Lord say to my heart “she’s going to be ok.”  You see, God cares about what we care about. That was all I needed to hear, the waters receded & my peace was restored. The lady who looked after Luna was absolutely wonderful and sent us photos 4 or 5 times a day.

Use Bible Verses and Worship Songs as Weapons
So that was just a little storm, what about something a little more serious, like the disciples, a life threatening storm. Let’s go back to 2021 when Jonathan & I both came down with Covid. It was a struggle with both of us being so sick at the same time but as I started to get better, he was still getting worse … and there were complications. It seemed like every time I turned around there was something else going on and there were times when I wasn’t sure that he was going to make it. Along with many phone calls to family & friends for support, I went to the Psalms and I felt like God gave me Psalm 91 v 7:  “Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed.” (TPT) I clung to that verse and declared it until I felt like all the residue of Covid had left and our little boat had made it to the other side.

What About You?
I want you to use your imagination right now and imagine yourself in a boat with Jesus. The waters can be all quiet and smooth, then the winds come and gently start rocking the boat. I want you to think about a situation in your life that may be causing some stormy conditions. It may be something small or it may be a bigger worry, a relationship, a financial situation, health … only you know what trial you may be facing. I want you to give Jesus some time to speak to you in the boat.

After Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, it says that there was a great calm and I feel that is what He wants to impart to you today. It’s not just to read about the storms but to experience His peace that passes all understanding, for you personally and to pass on to those around you. I believe that the other thing The Father wants to do is to encourage you to get the long distance perspective, don’t get stuck in the middle of the lake but allow The Father’s instruction to take you to the other side.

I felt that for my first blog on my webpage I should take some time to explain my heart behind ‘Solid Ground – A Devotional Journey.’

I’ve had in on my heart to write a book for the past number of years but for one reason or another, it has just not come into being, until this year.

Since I took a step that would take us down a path toward ministry in 2006, my heart has been to help younger believers who may have got stuck in their relationship with God and need a little help to get them going again.

You see that’s exactly what happened to me.  I grew up in a Christian home, attending church every Sunday but I struggled to find that real relationship with the Heavenly Father.  I don’t think I’m the only one who’s ever felt like this but what do you do or who do you talk to?  So you either give up or you go along with the ritual of religion and church going, which is absolutely no fun for anyone!

My aim in this book is to use experiences from my own life and stories from the Bible to make Christianity relevant to your life and whatever issues you may be going through.  I can assure you that God is not a distant being, He is a loving Heavenly Father who is interested in every single detail of our lives.

I’ve taken 21 challenging topics and as we explore the answers together, my hope is that this devotional journey will make your stronger in your faith and take you deeper in your relationship with God.

After I finished writing the book, I submitted it to several friends, family members and advisors and was encouraged by their comments and reviews, that it had already ministered to them and would bless many people.  This is what I hope to accomplish through the book.

Jesus didn’t preach a complicated Gospel but in some ways that’s what we’ve allowed it to become.  I hope to take you back to basics and then encourage you to keep moving forward in your faith.

I want to leave you today with a verse to meditate on.  I’ve just started reading the Passion Translation of the Bible and I love to read some familiar verses in a new version.  This one gets to the heart of the matter and reminds us that Christianity is really not that difficult.

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”  Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

Read it again and soak up all the rest that Jesus wants to give you today!

If you have any questions, comments or topics that you’d like me to look at, please contact me.