Max’ism: In the Midst of the Storm
Hurricane Rita.
Those two words stir powerful emotions. The storm of 2005
battered our state, our house, even our spirits as we watched and worried what
the day would bring. For only the second time in my life, I was forced to flee
with my husband, my children, anything we could fit in the car. Oh, and Max, of
course!
We sheltered in a small town in north Texas, five hours away
from where we live. Already, evacuees from Hurricane Katrina occupied closer
hotels. Huddled in a tiny, one room cottage, we listened to news reports that
warned of coming disaster. Our eyes were glued to the TV screen as radar
images showed the storm’s path directly over our area. Outside, rain battered
the windows from this massive hurricane. And Max?
Max slept peacefully on one corner of the bed.
His heart was not troubled by the reports. His eyes did not
watch with fear as the storm clouds rolled in. He simply trusted that all would
be well. And he slept. . .while all around us, the storm raged.
Surely, that is the lesson God wanted His disciples to learn
when He sent them out in a boat with the rain clouds brewing. He is present. He
is able. And He wants us to learn to depend on Him, even in our most trying
times.
Teach me, oh Lord, how to find rest…even in the midst of the
storm.
Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he
had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that
night, he was there alone, 24 and the
boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves
because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly
before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When
the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”
they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But
Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.
Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord,
if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he
said.
Then Peter got down out
of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But
when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord,
save me!”
31 Immediately
Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he
said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And
when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then
those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of
God.”
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