the storm.

It was a sunny Saturday – a day where Saturday-morning-cartoons have lost it’s novelty but instead, a day that brought a new purpose of restoration. It was a weekend where nothing else occupied my thoughts except for spending and enjoying my hours with fellow brothers and sisters. As the warmth of the sun embraced me, I then cheerfully transferred that energy of excitement into taking ownership of a selected kayak and rushing into the open waters.

With laughter, joy and even insecurities of the sea soon filled the air, you can’t help but feel a sense of healthy competition rising to the occasion to be the first to arrive at “Point B”.

As I travelled amoung friends - some were ahead of me, some were behind me but most comforting of all was that some were right beside me. For the ones with me, we paddled to keep up and to reach that common goal which faired to be attainable yet so far.

Soon enough, as things appeared to be stable, secure and fun, a speedboat made its dreadful appearance and sent gradually horrific shock waves into our path and tossing us into a frantic frenzy. With such an abrupt change, we naturally fought back paddling harder and determined to overcome the waves with all the strength we had in our dwindling arms. To a certain extent, we were able to maintain our course, with the rawness of our manhood and even that, being at stake; but found ourselves quickly battered and tired from the “storm”. With most of my energy drained from the one-sided fight, I had nothing left but to revert to placing my focus on “Point B” and maintaining a steady pace. It was THEN, that I realized, and to my surprise, the journey, even with the beating waves, becoming more tolerable as I didn’t allow the waves to greatly affect me but instead, to embrace it.

It was through this experience that God impressed in my heart that such is life.

Many a times where life gets you down with disappointments, unexpected circumstances and simply times where you just can’t find any good. We, then, naturally allow the “storm” to affect us and want to fight harder, either in the form of worry, anxiety, stress and essentially wanting to take full control of it. Let us not lose focus on what is important… and that is reaching “Point B” – to seek God’s kingdom and grace. Once we truly place our focus on God, He will transform us to be able to understand what He sees is best and not what WE think is best.

This immediately reminded me of when Jesus calmed the storm.

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:23-26) (NIV)

Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. As I rested and placed my confidence and focus on “Point B” / towards God, I was able to “stand firm” and brace the storm and it is THEN that we will find peace. Even in the midst of a storm, we will still be able to appreciate the NOW and not stress and lose sight on what God is revealing to us through what is currently happening.

With family and friends, either ahead, behind or with us, let us continue to support one another and journey on together with FAITH that Jesus will supply His perfect plan for us in His perfect timing!

In life, whatever our circumstances are, we can choose to fight our own battles but will soon grow tired and weary. We can only go as far as our strength allows but through God and His limitless power and everlasting love, we can go as far as He allows – and that’s pretty darn FAR! So let us enter God’s rest with a steady stride through the waves of life, continuing to seek His face and allow Him to direct our paths in the midst of any storm – it will come to pass, lets not stress about it! (Easier said than done BUT so much is true.)