Fierce winds, pounding rains and ravaging floods were felt across much of Cuba, Florida and the Carolinas as Hurricane Ian unleashed its furry. Jamaica was forecasted to be in its path, but the storm moved away from the island, which still felt its impact from the outer bands that brought mudslides and floods to several parts of the country. But that was very little compared to the massive destruction brought to the lives of millions. Many were caught unaware by this hurricane as the predictions had it making landfall north of where it actually hit.
There are many spiritual lessons to learn from this physical storm and apply to our lives as we all at some time will experience some type of “storm”, which may leave us devastated if we are not spiritually prepared. We need to be like the five wise virgins and make sure we have oil in our lamps (see Matthew 25:1-13). This oil represents being filled with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We need to be living out the truth of God’s Word and be guided by His Holy Spirit to survive and even thrive during the storms that life brings our way. We do not have to be afraid when Jesus is in our boat because He stills the storms and brings us through.
After dismissing the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And a fierce gale of wind developed, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling with water. And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:36-40
How often has our caring God brought us through many storms in our lives, yet when we face another storm, we lose faith in Him and fear overwhelms us as we keep our eyes on the storm and lose focus of Him? We seem to forget who He is and that He is not a God who changes. He is the all-powerful Creator. This is why Jesus slept as violent winds crashed waves against the boat, which shook the disciples, many of whom were fishermen and may have been used to rough seas. Jesus does not panic, and no storm takes Him by surprise. He has authority over the storms and the seas.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17
If we are in the hands of the One who created the earth why should we fear? God is using the storm to teach us about ourselves and Himself. The storm shows us areas in our hearts that need to line up with the Bible and it also reveals to us our true beliefs about God, which may be very wrong. The storm prunes us, and in the storm, we sometimes become very aware that we have accumulated a lot of baggage in our life, which is weighing us down and causing us to sink in the abyss, so we have to learn to get rid of many things that would cause us to drown.
Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. Colossians 3:5-8
The next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo; and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. Acts 27:18-19
Not only should be get rid of what is holding us down, but we also need to get rid of anything that would makes us hold on to the unwanted baggage. The storm may also unearth things that we want to remain hidden. As the hurricane approached Florida, one official warned that graves may be opened, and coffins may start floating around. Sometimes we have to deal with what we thought was a dead issue while in the storm and sometimes those gale force winds reveal that our foundation is rocky because we never built on the Rock, who is Jesus Christ.
What is the storm in your life teaching you? Are you being pruned right now by strong winds? Don’t worry, the pruning may hurt, but after, you will bear much fruit. Don’t be overwhelmed by the storms of life because with Jesus, you overwhelmingly conqueror.
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