"After the Storm, there is Calm"

      On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" ⁴¹ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

      "A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped."

      "Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it."

      Folks, this is one serious, full blown storm! It's a storm no one could have predicted. Such storms were common on the Sea of Galilee. They came out of nowhere, and they were treacherous. Heavy, pounding rain. Rocking waves, wind howling. Winds of possible hurricane force. This is a really terrifying storm. The kind of storm no one could survive.

      This storm blows in early in Mark's gospel, early enough that the disciples are not even sure who this Jesus is. Yes, they have seen him evict a couple of demons, heal a withered hand, get kicked out of the synagogue, and irritate the Pharisees. They are with him, but they may not be completely sure why. They haven't had much time with him, not enough time to build much of a foundation. Things are still a bit iffy.

      The small boat isn't faring too well either. Jesus, however, is doing fine. He's sleeping like a baby on a cushion in the stern! In a moment of desperation, they shake him awake, hoping against hope there is something he can do. They obviously have an inkling he has the power to help; still, they quake in terror.

      Hindsight is always 20-20. You can be sure they wished they'd never set sail that day. After the house burned down, we installed heat sensors in the attic. After a flood, one family bought flood insurance. If only we had checked the brakes more often, that terrible accident might have been avoided. If only we had been more prepared, things might have turned out differently. When the storms of life pound in on us, as they inevitably will, either we are ready for them, or we are not. The disciples weren't. They hadn't had time yet. Things were still new. They weren't even certain who he was. And they were absolutely terrified.

      One thing we know for sure is that storms will come. Life is full of quakes and droughts, forest fires and floods. Life cannot escape high winds, destruction, and death. I don't know what kind of storms you and I will face. We are either coming out of one, heading into one, or one is waiting around the bend. God never promised there wouldn't be storms. The Bible never said that, Jesus never said that, the Holy Spirit never said that.

      No, there are going to be storms. Because of our faith in God, we can know there will be calm after the storm. If we are prepared, we can count on weathering the storm. We can be assured God is there with us. God is there. Before the storms hit, during the full force gale, and in the aftermath of destruction. God is there, and because of that, no matter how awful it is, no matter how terminal the diagnosis, no matter how tragic the circumstance, the storm never, ever gets the final word. There is always calm after the storm.

      Only the storm reveals the nature of the foundation. Do you know you cannot build a foundation DURING a storm? You can do it before a storm hits, you can do it after a storm has passed, but you sure cannot do it during the hurricane! You cannot mend fences when the battle is raging. You have to do the work before the storm hits. You have to do your homework before the test is placed on that desk right in front of you.

      Only in a storm will you discover the strength of your foundation. Only in a storm will you discover the depth of your faith. Only in a storm will you know the power of God with you.

      Saying "Amen" on Sunday is one thing.

      Saying "Amen" during storms on Monday is another thing entirely.

      Worshipping God when all is well is easy.

      Worshipping God when storms break out, that's where the rubber meets the road.

      A preacher and his wife were on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and a storm came up. It was a bad storm. The floor was tilting, plates were flying, people were screaming. And his wife was one unhappy camper. She gripped the bedside and picked up the telephone.

      "Hello, may I speak to the Captain, please?"

      "Ma'am, the Captain is rather busy on the bridge. He's dealing with this storm."

      "Well, will you tell him something for me? Please tell him I am very upset. He could have avoided this. Why didn't he choose a different route? Now I and my family have to go through this."

      "Yes, Ma'am. We'll do our best."

      A few minutes later, to their surprise, the phone rings. It is the assistant to the Captain.

      "Hello, Ma'am. The Captain asked me to call you. He asked me to tell you two things. One: Go to sleep. Because the captain is going to stay up, and there is no need in both of you staying awake. The second thing: this ship was built with this storm in mind."

      "Long before we ever hit this storm, we knew this day was going to come. Way back, this boat was structured in such a way, all of these kinds of things were considered. Ma'am, this storm is bad; thus boat is better."

      I don't know what storms, what hurricanes, what disasters you will face. All is know is that all of us will. All I know is that we have a chance to get ready, here and now. We can work on the boat, and build the structure of our faith. We have an opportunity, every day, to strengthen our walk with God, to get to know Jesus better, to help each other discover a deeper and more meaningful faith. To build a foundation with God that prepares us for whatever storms life deals out.

      The storms in life are bad, sometimes horrible. God knows we need help to get through them. We have a God, we have a Savior, who is there for times of deep trouble.

      Every day we are given time. Time to strengthen our foundation. Time to prepare for the storms. Every day, our choices can draw us closer to the one who stands with us through storms, or not. That part is up to us. The rest is up to God.

      I wish I could tell you sticking to God's word means there will be no more storms. I wish that for you, and I wish that for me, too. I cannot tell you this because I know it is a lie. God did not say that following Christ would solve our problems. The Bible doesn't say that, Jesus doesn't say that, and I am not going to say that. (Although there are plenty of preachers who do!)

      What the word of God tells us is this: whatever storms there are, they won't have the last word. They don't have the last word, because Christ is right there in the boat with us. They will not undo us. After the storm, there will be calm.

      Now will you stand and join with me in singing a great old hymn? The words were written by Martin Luther, who certainly knew a thing or two about storms. As you sing these words today, pay attention to how they speak of the One who stands with us through storms, the One whose power is greater than any storm, the One who brings calm after the storm.