Where is God in the Storm?

By now, you’ve heard the name Beryl more times than you probably would like to. You may even still be experiencing the aftermath of it. Like any other storm in your life, Beryl has been out of control, completely unpredictable, and filled with destruction.

Are you in the middle of your own personal storm right now? Do you feel alone and wonder where God is?

Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) says,

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Right now, you may feel like you’re going through the biggest storm of your life, and you can’t keep your head above water. Where is God, though? Right here in Isaiah, it says he is with you, and he won’t let you drown in the waves that are trying to ravage you.

A Lesson from Peter

In Matthew 14:25-33, the disciples are on a boat, but Jesus was left behind on a mountain in prayer. It was during the early morning hours that there was a strong wind tossing the boat around, and Jesus began walking on the water toward them. They were afraid at first because they couldn’t tell it was Jesus (since it was still dark).

Jesus said to them, “It is I,” but Peter seemed a bit skeptical. He asked Jesus to command him to walk with him on the water if it really was him.

We talk often about how Jesus walked on water, but we skim past the fact that Peter also did.

Momentarily.

Peter was literally walking toward Jesus, with Jesus, on water in the middle of the ocean AND in the middle of a storm! Then, he stopped looking at Jesus, and he turned his focus to the storm. That’s when he became afraid and started sinking.

Where is your Focus?

When Peter placed all his focus on Jesus, he probably forgot there was a storm raging around him. I’m sure he could still feel it, but his gaze was on Jesus, and for a moment, it was as if it were just the two of them, and he was walking on water!

It wasn’t until he shifted his gaze to the storm that he allowed the storm to be bigger in his life than Jesus who was standing in front of him, and he started sinking.

But just like it says in Isaiah, Jesus didn’t let him drown. He reached his hand out to catch him. Don’t discount the fact Peter likely had to grab Jesus’ hand as well.

In your current storm, are you setting your gaze on Jesus or the storm? When you close your eyes, do you see Jesus with the storm behind him, or do you see the storm with Jesus behind it? If you still don’t know, just ask yourself what consumes your thoughts? Is it Jesus, his Word, and his promises, or is it the circumstance or situation that makes you feel like you’re drowning?

Jesus is standing with you in the middle of the storm, and if you’ll let yourself see him first, you’ll be able to walk on water with him as if everything around you is calm and full of peace.

Focusing on him doesn’t remove whatever storm is in your life, but it brings a peace that no one can understand. It brings a calm that your mind can’t make sense of. If you feel yourself beginning to sink, look for his hand reaching to catch you.

But don’t forget to reach out and grab the hand he offers.