Does it ever seem like the more you pray, the worse things get? It does to me. Sometimes I can relate to how the disciples must have felt when in their storm they heard these words; “Where is your faith?”
Recently I read about another storm that Paul was in. I saw something I had never noticed before. Paul’s storm didn’t let up; in fact it got worse. But there was never anything said about ‘his’ lack of faith. I wondered why the difference.
If you look closely at both stories, it wasn’t so much about faith to calm the storm; as it was about faith to believe they would be okay in it. In Paul’s story, even though the storm kept getting worse, he believed he was going to be okay.
The disciples gave up before they ever started. Luke describes it this way; “A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown’.”
Paul didn’t give up quite that easy. Listen to how his situation went down. Addressing a crew that has given up hope, he says, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and who I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar: and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
Paul’s faith didn’t calm the storm; but it did lead to a calming of all who were in it. Even though the storm got worse – even though it caused them to ‘run aground on some island’, Paul’s faith held up.
It is natural to pray that the Lord would calm our storms. Sometimes He does. Paul was probably praying for the Lord to calm his storm when He heard the angel speak. There is a phrase in there that I like; “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me”. We can bear a lot when He stands beside us.
I thought too that had Paul’s storm let up, he would have missed the island of Malta. Sometimes when we pray and our storms continue to get worse, it may be that God wants to run us aground somewhere for some reason beyond what we have the ability to see.
Hunger and Thirst 
Mike,
Nice post! The LORD can calm the storms that rage inside even our hearts.
I like how you point to Paul’s circumstances and illuminate the fact that, yes, the storm did indeed get worse, but…and with God there is always a ‘but’…Paul remained calm AND calmed the fellas he was with.
There is a simple yet extremely relevant teaching right there, and we can run with it in any number of directions. Love that!
Believing as I do, rabidly, in the Sovereignty of God, it makes perfect sense to me that He had the ship run aground so His will would be done, even if it freaked everyone out.
Thanks for the food, Mike.
“even if it freaked everyone out”
I haven’t heard that phrase in a while. It was good for a chuckle.
By the way, I really enjoyed your ‘thank you post’. It generated some good comments too.
Like you said, I’m kinda stuck with you guys. Oh well. It could be worse. LOL!
I love your storm teachings. This one, you seeing the difference between giving up as soon as the storm hits or going on into the storm trusting Him was really eye opening. And I think it describes what is going on in my life. The “storm” didn’t cease but He stands by me. He keeps me and covers me.
Thank you so much, Mike, for listening to Him and sharing these important messages!
I hope this one will do you for awhile. I want to be through with storms. 🙂 I did have this one thought that I just couldn’t not write about. Glad to know it was helpful. It was helpful to me.
Wonderful message,Mike. And let us not forget that not only was Paul calm despite the storm; he was calm knowing that he was going on trial before Caesar! That in itself could have been a death sentence. Amazingly, Paul just understood that God had a plan for his life and whatever it was, it was well with his soul!
A great song goes: “Sometimes he calms the storm, and other times he calms his child….” I like your last paragraph – good to think about….
Amen! 🙂