Originally posted 2018-08-11 08:30:21.
Hi!
Sometimes our troubles flood in so profusely; until we find ourselves in a faith waning stupor. When you’ve been through one storm after another; it gnaws at your hope. If you’re not careful; life’s trials will chip away at what you believed two, five, seven, or ten years ago.
Yet; no matter how torrential the rain; you’re not allowed to give up. When you keep going; help shows up; out of the blue. Imagine walking a distance in a raging storm with just a rain cap; and someone runs up to you with a super wide umbrella. Or; picture someone being in an emotional dark space; for a prolonged period. Suddenly glimmers of light pop up from unexpected places.
Those surprises, or unexpected umbrellas, snap you back. 
Earlier today; as I scrolled through one of my email addresses; I stumbled upon one of those surprises. It is a devotional I wrote for a class in my last year at the seminary. As I read it; I thought, “Wow! That was December, 2011; six months before the Masters of Divinity. What happened to my excitement in serving the Lord?”
POW!! Then it hit me!
The devotional was written two and a half years before my daughter, Tamika, died. Though; I dealt with headaches from multiple brain surgeries; and had limited mobility; life wasn’t so bad. I felt stripped from being away from the workforce. But; thankfulness for small victories still filled my days.
Also; the fervency of my faith during the writing of the devotional was four and a half years before my dear sister; Angie; died. Grief hadn’t thrown a one-two punch at me yet. Thank you Lord; monopolized my thoughts; and outweighed the spurts of melancholy.
Yet, today; as I read what I wrote about Jesus years ago; something has risen up in me. As I push to write these few words; while feeling nagging pain on the side of my head where the brain surgery happened; I wonder. “Do I believe like I believed almost seven years ago?”
If so; what happened to my joy?”
My friend; has life ever hit you with near, knockout blows? Have you tried your best to live right; yet trouble keeps showing up at your door? Do you find your faith teetering on the downside of a hill? Well! Do me a favor. Hold on! Take a walk with me.
I’d like to share the following devotional with you. It has encouraged me today. It’s what I liken to; “unexpected umbrellas, 
that give you peace in the storms.” I pray; it does the same for you.
Jesus Can Calm Any Storm!
Luke 8:22-25
Sometimes God tells us to go with Him to a specific place; naturally or spiritually different from where we are currently. And in our willingness to follow God’s instructions, we obediently move out on our journey; not knowing what we will experience when we get there. We do this; trusting and believing God. Because; we are assured that Jesus is with us; and we are declaring, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13 NIV)
With our destination in mind, we move out on God’s commands. Even when we know that; to reach our destination, we must cross over and pass through unstable environments that have the potential for danger. We launch out confidently knowing; God has not only given us a commandment and a destination. But; He has given us the means by which to get there.
We use cars to drive from one side of the town or country to the other. We travel by plane to go from one city, state or country to another. In some cases; we sail across lakes on boats.
Just as planes are built to fly thousands of miles in sometimes turbulent weather; cars are made to endure rocky roads; and boats are built to withstand the unstableness of lakes; we are made to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ Jesus. (cf. 2 Tim. 2:3) And while we are en route to get to the next place; before we reach the intended goal; a storm may arise.
Storms! What are they? Someone has left their job for better employment; and encounters a jealous, insecure boss; who is plotting to get them terminated before their probationary period is over. A storm! A couple has just bought a new home; and they both lose their job. A storm!
A retail business owner has a major decline in sales two consecutive years! A storm! A woman discovers her son or daughter is involved in illegal activities. A storm! . A man’s car has broken down; and there are no bus routes from his home to his job. Nor; are there any carpools at work; or available rides. A storm!
But; in any storm; when we know Jesus is with us; there is no need to fear. We must believe that Jesus won’t let us perish. He’s the same Jesus that has the power to walk on water. (cf. Mark 6:48)
When we call Jesus, our master, our teacher; the one who has authority over the elements; all He has to do is speak to our storms. We serve a God that made everything out of nothing by speaking that which was not into existence (cf. Genesis 1:1-26).
It doesn’t matter how devastating your storm is. Know; that; as long as Jesus is with you; drowning is not an option. Anytime Jesus can rebuke the wind and raging sea; both of which don’t have ears; or the capacity by human logic to hear; and they hearken to his warning; this is evidence of His authority over nature. Jesus has the authority; and is powerful enough to calm any storm that comes into your life. Jesus can move beyond the natural to the supernatural; and work what you call a miracle in any circumstance that you meet.
That is why; when those of us who walk with Jesus; are in the midst of reaching our goals; we can’t allow the storms of life to cause us to misplace our faith. We must always remember; that no storm is too great for Jesus to calm. What the enemy of our souls wants those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Master and savior; and who have obeyed Him to do; is to not go to our next. He doesn’t want us to go to the other side. He uses fear to dampen and choke the seeds of faith that have been planted into our lives.
But; those of us who have seen Jesus work miracles in our lives; or the lives of others; we who have heard and received Jesus, the Word, will be tested. And in these times of testing and trials, call Jesus in prayer. Therefore; when Jesus calms your storm, don’t be amazed. Rather than saying, “Who is this?” (cf. Luke 8:25) just give Him thanks.
Thanks for spending time with me today. We’ll talk soon.
Blessings!
Rochelle
