Storms
- Richard Selke
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 29
July 2, 2025
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Erin, Lindsay, Emily and I were with Randall on his boat in the middle of Lake Travis when a lightning storm suddenly came out of nowhere. One moment, the skies were calm, and the next, chaos descended. As we raced for the closest shelter on shore, the U-flote-M, the boat’s engine died. I felt the hair on my arms beginning to rise, and the girls’ long hair was standing straight up. An electrical charge was building, and we were in serious danger. I was absolutely terrified! I yelled for everyone to crouch down in the boat and I cried out to God in silent prayer as Randall tried frantically to restart the engine.
In that terrifying moment, I thought about the story in Matthew 8, when Jesus’ disciples faced a storm of their own: “Then he [Jesus] 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. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’’” Matthew 8:23-27, NIV
We’ve all faced storms – not just on lakes, but in life:
Maybe we’ve lost our job and we’re having an identity crisis.
Maybe our spouse is the one struggling.
Maybe our retirement savings have taken a hit and our future seems uncertain.
Maybe we’ve lost someone we love.
Or maybe the doctor just called and we need to come in right away.
Some storms come because of our own choices. Others come for no reason we can explain. But they all come. They come up out of nowhere and they rage. Some pass quickly while others remain a long time.
What do we do when storms arise? Take control? Take charge? Make a plan? Call up our friends and family? Network? Scour self-help books and motivational resources? We’ve been trained to be self-reliant, and we do everything we can think of to weather the storm.
But, what do we do when we’ve done all we can – and the storm is still raging? What do we do when we don't know what to do?
That's when we remember we're not in the boat alone. Jesus still speaks to storms. He still comes to us and says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you ... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27, NIV
When we were in the storm on Lake Travis, time stood still as I waited in fear for a lightning bolt to hit us. It seemed like forever until Randall finally got the engine started and we made it to shelter and safely rode out the storm.
I felt powerless – but I wasn’t prayer-less. And neither are you.
I love what JD Walt says about how God works through our suffering: “Great souls are only forged in the fires of hardship, struggle, and suffering. And here’s the bottom line: hardship, struggle, and suffering will come to everyone at one time or another in life. How you handle them determines who you become. Will we navigate them ‘through him who gives me strength’ [Philippians 4:13, NIV], or through other sources that give us strength that turns out not to be strength at all?”
When storms arise, do we retreat into the darkness or do we run to the Light?
We don’t have to navigate our storms alone. Jesus is not only Lord of the calm, He’s Lord of the storm. When fears arise, let faith rise higher. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3, NIV
I love one of Max Lucado’s definitions of a Christian: “… wide eyed, yet unafraid. Unterrified by the terrifying. The calmest kid on the block, not for lack of bullies, but for faith in his older brother.”
Faith is the antidote to fear, and the Lord Jesus is the anchor in every storm.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, when the storms of life rage,
turn to Jesus, our Lord and Savior!
QUESTION
What storm are you facing right now — and how can you invite Jesus into the boat with you?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You see the storms we’re in – whether they are raging around us or quietly rising within us. We thank You that we are not alone. Just as You were with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, You are with us now. Speak Your peace into our hearts, Lord. Calm the winds of fear, the waves of doubt and the thunder of despair. Forgive us when we try to navigate the storms in our own strength. Help us to trust You more deeply, even when we don’t understand. Be our refuge when we feel overwhelmed. Be our anchor when we feel adrift. Be our strength when we feel weak. Thank You for being not only the Lord of the calm, but also the Lord of the storm. We place our faith in You. We invite You into our boats.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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