The Problem With Storms...

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

We don't like storms.  The problem with storms is that we get wet, which makes us uncomfortable, which makes us irritable, which makes us cranky.....you see where I'm going with this.  

I happen to like storms.  Well....as long as I am safely ensconced someplace dry and I can observe, but not participate, the storm's fury and destruction.  But that doesn't really help me understand how it feels to endure a storm.

We don't like pain, conflict, or, for that matter, discomfort.  We like things to be comfortable, easy, fun and safe for us.  So when something happens that causes us pain, we tend to withdraw or we lash out at the one who hurt us and anyone who tries to help us, and keeps everyone at a distance so we won't be hurt again.  

I have some good news and some bad news - The Bad News: Storms are going to come, they are going to hurt, and we must learn to endure them.  The Good News: No storm comes and stays.  Storms are temporary!

When we think about Jesus, we see Him as the one who spoke to the storm and it obeyed Him by going away.  But remember, Jesus endured more than just the storm He spoke to.  Remember when Lazarus died?  Jesus was so brokenhearted that He wept!  

• Jesus endured the physical pain of being rejected by the very people He came to help.
•  Jesus endured the pressure of constantly being criticized by the Scribes and Pharisees.  
• Jesus endured the constant threat of their plots, taunts, challenges, and arrogance.
• Jesus endured the agony of his own Disciples (whom He loved) betraying Him, abandoning Him and even denying Him.
• Jesus enduring the humiliation of being beaten, tortured, stripped, presented to the public so they could laugh at Him and reject Him, and finally being killed as if He was some sort of criminal.
• He was accused falsely.  He was judged before He ever came to trial.  He was condemned no matter what He could say in His own defense.

So when Jesus says that He gives us His Peace, He knows what we need to endure our painful storms.  He knows the people we need in our lives to help us through the storm, and to help clean up the aftermath.  Jesus knows what we endure when the storms of our lives come crashing in....and He already has a plan in place to help us through.