“Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them.”
– Mark 6:48 (NKJV)

During a recent tour through Israel, we enjoyed a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee. When we boarded the boat, we felt a light breeze developing; and, by the time we reached the middle of the sea, the wind was blowing very strong. The strong wind caused a small storm on the sea, with waves and swells reaching nearly two-meters high. The water spilled over into the boat and needless to say, we were soaking wet.

Our time on the boat got me thinking about the two types of storms in the Bible: The storm of correction; and, The storm of perfection.

The Storm of Correction is when God is disciplining us. Jonah found himself in a storm because of his disobedience. He didn’t like the assignment that God gave him. He had to leave his homeland and go to the city of Nineveh, a hostile and evil center of idol worship. Jonah had to warn the people of God’s impending judgment and urge them to repent. The Hebrew people hated the people of Nineveh; so, the rebellious prophet fled in the opposite direction, hoping for a different word from God that was more to his liking. Buffeted by storms and having traveled in the stomach of a fish for three days, Jonah ended up where God wanted him to be. All that which happened to Jonah could have been prevented if only he would have listened and responded to God in obedience from the beginning (Jonah 1-4).

However, the Storm of Perfection, is when God helps us to grow in our faith, trust, and relationship with Him. Jesus tested His disciples twice on the Sea of Galilee. On one occasion (Matt. 8), He was with them in the boat; and, another He was watching and praying for them from the mountaintop (Matt. 14). The disciples were in the boat and a storm because they had obeyed the Lord and His assignment. They had to cross over to the other side just like Jesus instructed. Did Jesus know that the storm was coming? Certainly! Did He deliberately direct them into the storm? Yes! They were safer in the storm in obedience to Him than on the shore with the crowds.

What about us? The experience of the disciples could be a great encouragement to us when we go through problems, challenges, and the storms of life.

If you are in a storm of correction, it is time to repent and go back to the last assignment God has given to you. When you find yourselves in a storm of perfection, you can rest assured in these facts:
• He allowed your circumstances to happen.
• He is with you through His Spirit (just as He was with the disciples in the boat).
• He is watching you.
• He is interceding on your behalf.
• He will meet with you in due time.
• He will accomplish in you what is needed (correction/perfection).
• He will see you through.
• He will achieve His purpose and goal.

Prayer: Lord, help me to take heart and remember when the outlook is poor to keep my eyes fixed upon You. Amen