by Suzanne Hadley

Hurricanes. Tsunamis. Tornados. You hear about them all the time on the news. Sometimes it seems as though the weather is out of control. Maybe you've even experienced one of these destructive storms. But there is more to a storm than you might think.

Storm Stories

Since the time of Noah, humans have struggled against storms. People fear them because they are dangerous and unpredictable. The Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are a few recent storms that have left destruction in their paths.

The Bible reveals an unmistakable connection between storms and the Creator. In fact, Scripture is packed with amazing storm stories. Read these accounts, and look for a common theme.

Case Study #1—Fish Food

When Jonah disobeyed God by refusing to go to Nineveh to preach, the Lord sent a powerful storm. The ship's crew panicked and threw Jonah overboard (he told them to) where a large fish promptly swallowed him. More important (after the fish experienced some unfortunate indigestion), the pouting prophet ended up in Nineveh, where he preached. It wasn't Jonah's plan, but God's, when the Ninevites repented of their sins.

Case Study #2—Sidetracked

The apostle Paul was accustomed to strange, scary occurrences—going blind, getting beaten, spending the night in prison. But when he found himself on a ship in the middle of a violent storm, he thought it might be the end.

Luke describes it like this: “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20).

Paul and his shipmates ran aground on the island of Malta, where he healed the sick and proclaimed the Gospel for three months.

Case Study #3—Making Waves

On an average day in Judea, the disciples enjoyed a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus took a nap. Suddenly a strong wind kicked up and gigantic waves began crashing over the boat. The disciples were sure they were about to die, so they shook Jesus awake. “Teacher,” they screamed, “don't You care if we drown?”

Jesus spoke to the storm: “Quiet! Be Still!” The disciples, wiping the salt spray from their eyes, stared in disbelief as the water went still.

“Who is this?” they murmured in amazement. “Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”

Did you see a common theme? In each of these situations, God used the storm to accomplish a specific purpose. Jonah learned obedience. Paul found people who needed help. The disciples discovered that Jesus was more than a man. And although the storms were scary, God was in control.

Isaiah 51:15 says: “For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar.” Storms are an amazing display of God's power. And because He controls nature, He can end a storm as quickly as He allowed it to start: “You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them” (Psalm 89:9).

Storms of Life

The Bible uses the storm as a picture of hard times in our lives. These “life storms” may include danger, sickness, persecution or the death of a loved one. When hard times come, people sometimes feel as if their circumstances, like giant waves or howling winds, are about to destroy them.

David experienced these feelings many times. One time, as he ran for his life, he felt especially desperate. “The waves of death swirled about me,” he later said. “The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me” (2 Samuel 22:5).

But in the midst of terrible danger, David made an important discovery: God was nearby, ready to save him. David called out for help and God answered.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (2 Samuel 22:17-18). David not only escaped death, he later became Israel's king.

Just as God uses physical storms to accomplish His purposes, He may use difficult times in your life to strengthen your faith or draw you closer to Him. Like Jonah, Paul and David, you also have an important place in God's plan.

No matter how big the storm is, God is right beside you. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” The Lord offers His children protection from life's storms.

Next time you hear thunder, feel the driving wind or watch ocean waves crash against the rocks, remember that God controls every storm—just as He controls your life.

	Q: What kind of phone does a turtle use? A: A shell-ular phone. Andy B., 10, Wisconsin Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe