WEATHERING THE STORMS OF LIFE – Jesus is Our Safe Place! – Daily Devotional
The sunny sky above contrasted the dark storm clouds that blotted out all light in the distant horizon. The unaware boy scouts were two days into the boundary waters wilderness as they paddled past my camp that overlooked the lake. They all wore life jackets and obliviously held their canoe paddles like shovels while their leader slept in the middle of a canoe.
Soon the wind started to howl and whipped the water into whitecaps across the big lake. I looked out with my binoculars and saw the three canoes vanish into three different directions – unable to maintain direction against the power of the waves.
No doubt the boys were scared. They would eventually swamp their canoes against a rocky shore where they would be forced to spend the stormy night – unsheltered, and all alone in the dark woods. It would be a long, cold and truly hellish way to learn about the great outdoors.
Like these boys, many of us have experienced dark and troubled times when we’ve been overwhelmed by storms in life. Without being trite, let’s consider some practical advice to manage those storms:
- Remember there cannot be courage unless you are first afraid
- Treat this as an opportunity to practice a virtue that will make you stronger
- Remember that this storm – like all storms – shall also pass
It might also be wise to consider the Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared.” Those boys could have handled even the worst wind and waves if only they had taken the time to learn to steer a canoe properly, using the appropriate “J-strokes,” “C-strokes” and draw strokes.
Perhaps we too, can be better prepared for the inevitable storms of life. . . To do so, we need to take the time – in advance of the storm – to learn the most important stroke of all. . . How to have a deep and personal relationship with Christ.
Jesus described the wise man, the man who was prepared and ready for the storm, as someone who built his house upon the rock of God’s word. When we are truly anchored in Jesus, we can and will survive absolutely any storm that comes our way.
