Storms sometimes seem to brew up out of nowhere. One moment, it’s a beautiful sunny day, the next moment, the clouds roll in and it’s pouring rain. Meteorologists are equipped to predict storms based on the weather conditions that lead to them. 2017 was full of harsh hurricanes: Irma, Maria and Harvey. Although it sounds like a trio of friends, these three storms plus many others brought chaos and damage to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Islands and the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. The wind and waves were strong and left behind a trail of devastation.
Tough times in our lives can feel like the chaos of a storm. Questions and doubts swirl around us like a cyclone wind. Fear and worry make our stomachs churn like the stormy waters in a squall. Anger crashes over us like the tall waves in a hurricane. Tears fall like rain. The storms in our lives can feel as damaging and hurtful as the infamous storms Irma, Maria and Harvey.
In Mark 4, Jesus brings calm to the stormy seas. At Jesus’ command, the wind stills and the waves quiet. The storm comes to an instant end. Jesus’ actions teach us that God promises to be with us in our life storms, replacing chaos with the gift of calm and peace. God’s calming grace knows no storm too fierce to tackle.
Get out your umbrellas and take a walk, even if it isn’t raining. Discuss these questions:
- Share storm stories. What happened? What did you do to stay safe and calm?
- What is a storm in your life right now? Give this storm a name. How would you categorize it, on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the strongest)?
- What brings calm to you during difficult days?
Knot streamers to a fan and turn it on, increasing the speed to create a windstorm. Observe how the wind blows the paper strips to and fro. Take turns pretending to be Jesus, turning off the fan and saying, “Quiet! Be still!” Jesus brings a calming grace to the windstorms of our lives.
Make an emergency box for your home’s storm shelter for storm season. Fill it with physical and emotional comforts: bottles of water, non-perishable foods, blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, stuffed animals and a radio. Use a permanent marker to write calming Bible verses on the water bottles and food packages.
