Storms, in my experience, reveal a whole lot about what’s holding us together. In 1 Chronicles, it talks about Zebulun, and while they are honored for being mighty, they are also honored for being disciplined—for keeping rank and not having a divided heart. We, on the other hand, tend to become rather double-minded when trouble comes. When the pressure gets turned up, it’s easy to start scrambling, focusing on all the wrong things, and even abandoning the things that really keep us steady.
That’s kind of how Peter fared. He actually got out and walked on water! But when he got distracted from the One he was focusing on and began to notice how bad the wind and waves were, fear took over, and he began to sink.
The story is a classic and, more importantly, a real-life parallel: it’s not the storm that’s the real trouble—it never is—but the direction of our attention when the storm gets heavy.
This is what we’re often resistant to believe: we can’t choose whether we’re going to face storms, but we can choose whether we’re going to panic through them. Scripture never promised us a storm-free life, but it did promise that we’d be delivered through every storm.
Often, the difference between sinking and standing is as simple as staying grounded—staying in rank, staying in fellowship, and not becoming divided in heart and mind. The most tumultuous storms can become the most pivotal places of growth and strengthening if we maintain our faith. And that’s not just theory—it’s reality. God’s proven track record shows He’s capable of bringing good from utter chaos, but we miss it all when we step out of the boat every time life gets uncomfortable.
Lately, I’ve been trying to add extra thinking and prayer time to my problem-solving. It works! I challenge you this week to strive to see the possibilities instead of the problems. God won’t let you down, and He won’t ever let you capsize. Stay steady.
James