Sleep in the Storm
Last night, it stormed really hard at our house. My bedroom has a tin roof, so when it rains heavy, it sounds like a freight train overhead. Needless to say, my new kitten, did not like this. At first, she rain around, jumping on my desk, and dresser, looking up at the ceiling, and then back to me, with eyes wide, and howling in concern.
She couldn't understand why I too, was not worried about the very scary noise the ceiling was making. Eventually, I picked her up and placed her next to me in my bed. Her eyes were still wide with fear, but I kept her close and pet her every time her ears would perk up, and eyes widen, reassuring her, that it was okay. The storm was outside, it couldn't hurt her, she was safe here with me. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, even as the rain continued pouring down outside.
It made me think of us, with God. When the storms of life strike, many times, our first instinct is too frantically look around, to "jump on counters and howl", with eyes-wide. To say, "God, umm hello? Are you seeing this? Are you hearing this? Why are You not more concerned about this very scary storm outside? Why are you not causing the rain to stop? Aren't you worried at all?"
But I think of Jesus, falling asleep in the boat:
"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Matthew 4:35-41)
The disciples shared the same fear as my sweet kitty, that they were not safe. But what Jesus knew, is that they were, because He was with them. Jesus knew the Father's heart, he knew that despite the storm raging on outside, he could sleep, because the Father cared for him.
But sometimes, just like my kitten, we need that reassurance. We need to be reminded that although the storm outside might still be raging on, we are safe. Safe enough to sleep in our Father's arms. It won't make the storm go away, the loud noise on the roof won't always stop, but our hearts can be filled with His peace, and we can be comforted by His presence, having faith, that we can rest in His arms.
And perhaps, even in the midst of the unceasing rain, we can learn to dance in it. Finding joy in the One who is with us there.
Sleep in the Storm - Unspoken