The Calming of Our Storm

There is a story going across the internet about how we are all in the same storm, but different boats. This story makes me think about the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus. Peter was losing it because he felt like the ship was going to sink and they were going to die. Jesus was sleeping and calm about the storm. While we do not know the feelings of the other Apostles, we can only imagine how they were feeling.

All of the Apostles were in the same boat and in the same storm. However, their boats of life experiences were completely different. Some of them were fishermen and must have experienced bad storms on the Sea of Galilee. Some of them might have been experiencing their first storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Looking at the storm of isolation, many of us have dealt with isolation for years. We have been stuck in a nursing home with no contact from the outside world. Our families do not visit us. Our only connection to the outside world is the staff. Then, there are the students who are experiencing isolation for the first time. The only connection to friends is Facetime or phone calls. We are experiencing the loss of the outside world.

Loss always brings a form of isolation because we do not know how to relate to others. This isolation is causing us to mourn the loss of our lives as we once knew. However, like Peter, we can not walk out of this isolation without a faith in God. If we are not  going to have faith that Jesus will bring us through this isolation, then we, too, are going to be scolded by God for our lack of faith. In our trying times, God is going to provide for us.

At times, it is difficult to see the beauty in our storm. However, there is beauty in our storm. There is good coming out of our isolation period. Are we willing to see God during this period? Are we willing to still tell God thank you for the time? While we may not be able to see the beautiful master piece, God knows exactly what he wants us to do. We just have the courage and faith to tell God that we believe in Him. We have to tell God that we trust He will carry us through this storm.

While none of us are dealing with the same experiences in isolation, we can all praise God and give Him thanksgiving. When we turn our focus on the goodness of God through this storm, then God will allow us to come out of this storm stronger and in better circumstances. We all can get through this isolation with God. However, the question becomes are we willing to come out of this isolation WITH God? Did we allow our isolation to make our faith stronger?