St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

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Surviving the Storms of Life

Mark 4:35-41

June 25, 2006         (Click the date to see the bulletin)

by Rev. Spencer

Living in Oklahoma one learns the meaning of various weather alerts. If we are told "severe thunderstorm watch" we know that the conditions are right for a possible sever thunderstorm somewhere within a given area. However if we are told "severe thunderstorm alert:" we know that a sever thunderstorm has been spotted within a given area and if we live within that given area or are in the projected path of that storm we also know what to expect. And if the weather person says, "take cover now" we know or should know what to do. We are usually given sufficient warning to take the necessary action and that is good.

However, the other week some you experience the microburst. There was no warning. From what I understand, by definition, no warning is possible for a microburst. The storm collapses so fast that there is no warning and we cannot predict when a collapse will or might occur. And if we are unfortunate enough to be living within that small area which is affected we probably with suffer some damage.

On the other hand, there was sufficient warning for the hurricanes which struck the gulf coast last year. Yet there was the tragic lost of life. Then came the blame game. Whose fault was it that so many lives were lost? For me, the only purpose of this blame game was to discover how in the future such losses could be prevented. We cannot stop those storms, we can only do our best minimize the losses.

These, hurricanes, thunder storm, tornados, are the storms of nature and there are preventative actions which we can and should take. But what about the storms in our lives?

What, if any thing, can we or should we do about them?

And lets be clear about one thing, there have been, there are, and there will be storms in our lives. Plan as we will, storms will come, both those that are unexpected and unpredictable as well as those which give us some form of warning. The unexpected downsizing because the company has been bought out, the unexpected accident or illness. There may catch us unexpectedly.

As many of you know, we just returned from El Paso where we conducted a memorial service for a very dear friend. We had been with him and his family celebrating his 75^th birthday in March. He knew, we knew he had cancer, then a few weeks ago we learned that he had taken a turn for the worst. So we had warnings. It was a matter of time, not if but when, and all we and his family could do was to prepare for the loss.

While this was not said to me, nor did I hear anyone there say this, yet in other circumstances I have hear people say –"but why did this happen to him. He/she was such a faithful church person, such a good Christian." And Chuck was. An Elder, church schoolteacher, worker with the youth, generous supporter, you name it, probably at some time did it. And not just for his church, but for his community as well, not only did he have the means but was generous with what he had. And while this was a real lost to his family, it was more than evident that their faith sustained them and in turn, sustained others as well.

Some years ago

A colleague with whom I had worked was diagnosed with cancer. He was an outstanding preacher, as good administrator, a faithful husband and a loving father. His daughter said to him, "Why you daddy, why you?" And his reply was, "Why not us, we have to faith that will carry us through."

That is what our faith in Jesus and in God can do. While our faith cannot prevent the storms, it can prevent us from being over whelmed by them.

Yet there are times when one may feel that God is at a distance, that God is not interested in us, is not concerned for our welfare, and we wonder where is God. We may get angry, "God you see the trouble I’m in, wake up! Come help me."

"Wake up!" the disciples said to Jesus. "Wake up" and we feel some sympathy for them. The night was dark, the storm was fierce, they feared for their lives. Jesus, "Wake up" Do something. I not certain just what they expected Jesus to do. And what he did certainly surprised them.

And the "do something" he did was so simple it is almost unbelievable, "PEACE, BE CALM." In the midst of this raging storm, "be clam." And the storm ceased.

What I see is that the gospel writers are telling us is that this Jesus has power over those forces which other wise would overwhelm us. There is power there that we not understand. And notice what was the response of the disciples. After this months with Jesus they response was: "who is this Jesus that has such power?’

It will take a while for them to fully comprehend who this Jesus is. Some maybe never did get it. Others in time will say "My Lord and My God.’

It is interesting that this is the second time in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus has rebuked something and said, "Be still." The first time was in the first chapter where Mark says, "Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!" And Jesus said, "Be still! Come out of him." And the people said, "What is this?" Throughout Mark’s gospel the disciples and others, keep coming to new understanding of who Jesus is, and it is always in the context of come crises.

This is true for us as well. We keep meeting Jesus in new ways as we meet him in new crises. We don’t really understand who he is or the power he has until we see him in action. Then we realize that his power is sufficient.

Thomas experienced Jesus in a whole new way when he saw him after the resurrection and he fell down crying "My Lord and my God." It is in those moments that we really understand who Jesus is. If you place your complete faith and trust in Jesus, you will have a greater understanding of him, a deeper relationship with him, and a new love for him when the storm is over. You will see his power over darkness and the depth of his love for you. Jesus is telling us to live by faith, not by fear.

There is a calmness that comes with faith. When the winds blow and waves threaten the ship of life, we trust in the One who will tend our needs. Such care, such power awed the disciples when Jesus rebuked the wind and ordered the sea to be still. So we too may turn to Jesus in the midst of the perils of life and hear his "Peace, Be still!"

He is with us and beside us in the storms of life. We are not alone while being tossed about. He is there. Live by faith, not by fear.

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