Finding Peace in the Storm

The whole world now knows about Coronavirus or COVID-19 as it is now known officially. Whether it is the countries that have had it and seem to have controlled it like China and South Korea, the countries like most of Europe, parts of Asia, Africa and America who now have it or those countries yet to have it. The storm of activity and cycle of fear, concern and panic that this has caused across the world is truly incredible. Our news media seeming to produce more and more failures of the system to provide what is needed together with more and more video clips from folks to add fuel to the flames.

Our health services are or will be overwhelmed by the storm as it breaks upon them, we are told, as governments frantically prepare as best they are able. Many of us are now restricted in our movements and abilities to do what we usually do. Humanity seems to be to a degree adrift in a storm that is hard to control or to stop.

Most who have spent any time at sea know that the sea while it can be calm and beautiful can also be a tyrant, huge waves, rough seas boiling with foam and forcing ships to run before it rather than risk being broadsided.

Jesus' disciples found themselves in one of the sudden storms that can happen around lake Galilee. Panic appears to have been the order of the day "we are going to drown" they cried. Meanwhile, Jesus, was blissfully asleep in the boat, seemingly unaware of the problem facing them. The situation seemed well out of the disciples' ability to handle and so they woke Jesus. Two things happened, first Jesus told the storm “Quiet! Be still!” and the storm calmed. The second was that Jesus questioned them about their lack of faith. Almost as if do you think I would let that happen to you? Perhaps it was a lesson they would remember later in life when other storms of life broke around them?

In the current virus storm I am taking time to look for calm in the storm. Finding ways to help others be less panicked and fearful. None of us know for sure who will be affected, who will recover and who will not. But I hold to a hope in and through Jesus that helps me approach this storm with a calm optimism.

It has caused me to look for ways to help our church to face and start to weather the storm together, in prayer and in fellowship. Encouraging them to be creative in what they do and to ensure all are included in it. It has also given me more time to work on a deeper relationship with God in prayer and quietness. Through these I find the peace that I need to face this storm and any future storm. Jesus is my light, my hope and my joy. I hope you can also find that for yourselves and perhaps rise above the storm.