On September 20, 2017, a Category 4 hurricane hit Puerto Rico, the island where I was born. The island was shredded, and nearly fifty people lost their lives. Months later, large numbers of island residents were still without water, electricity, medical care, and phone service. Hurricane Maria, with her death-dealing winds, roaring seas, and floodwaters, had pummeled Puerto Rico and its residences. It left the people with little, if anything.
Sometimes we’re fooled into thinking we can outmanoeuvre or even tame nature’s fierce storms. Yet despite all we have and all we know, storms still injure, harm, or even kill us. We’re vulnerable and fragile creatures—no matter how much money, information, shelter, or technology we have. We’re mortals, not God. The only One in existence with the power to tame the fierce winds and waves is the God-man Jesus—the Messiah, our Savior (Mark 4:35-41).
If Jesus can calm storms in nature, can He also quell the storms of life? It’s an important question. At some point, every one of us will enter the worst storm of our lives. Like the sailors mentioned in Psalm 107, we’ll “reel” and “stagger” and be at our “wits’ end” (Psalm 107:27). The storm may be a physical or mental disease or violence that attacks us or our loved ones. What can we do in such storms?
We can cry out, “Lord, help!” (Psalm 107:28). The Bible promises that those of us who cry out to God for help will find hope that doesn’t disappoint (Romans 5:5, 9:33). No matter how awful the tempest, eventually, whether in this lifetime or eternity, we’ll witness God’s faithful calming of the storm and stilling of the waves (Psalm 107:29). He is with us in the storms, and that’s the greatest comfort of all.