Truth To Wonder: conversation for christ

We recently attempted to have a weekend away at a local holiday park. However, our plans quickly went wrong courtesy of a whole variety of challenges. Significantly, when we arrived, we realised our caravan was backing onto a busy railway line. The only thing separating us from said line were a few threadbare trees and a flimsy fence. The noise from the passing trains was intense, however this audible buffeting was only heightened by a terrible storm that had decided to land that same evening. 

That night, we were all acutely aware of the thunderous elements just the other side of the thin layer of fibreglass and plastic that was our caravan. The sound of the rain smashing against the caravan was deafening, and this mingled well with the intense gusts of wind that shook the whole unit. When there was a slight pause in the rain, our heavy eyes would begin to discover some semblance of sleep. Just then, a train would hurtle past us a few metres away at terrific volume, thwarting our hopes of gentle sleep.

During this unsettled night, I laid wide awake as the churning elements mocked our little shelter. I laid there praying that the Lord would keep us safe and enable us to have small amount of sleep. 

As I laid there talking with the Lord, all whilst the sound of the storm brutally lashed our caravan, I thought on how Christ Jesus stopped such a storm with the power of His word. With the torrential rain and turbulent winds providing a suitable soundtrack, I thought on how understandable it was for the disciples of Christ to react with such fear seeing the immense power of Jesus in action. 

Many of the disciples were experienced fisherman, well versed in the treacherous conditions of the Sea of Galilee. That storm however, in which they found themselves, was something altogether more terrifying than anything they’d ever experienced before on the seas. Yet even the fear of the life-threatening ferocity of that storm was quickly forgotten, when they gazed upon a man who could stop such tempests with but the power of His word! Christ quelled that storm without exertion, sweat, struggle, nervousness or doubt. He did so with unparalleled calmness of authority. What manner of man holds such power?! Only the God-man Jesus Christ holds such immense power and authority. 

So, as I laid in my bed with a degree of anxiousness over the severity of the storm, I was comforted by this remembrance of God’s Word. For why should I be concerned about the storm when my Saviour can silence even the mightiest of tempests with but a word? I laid there in awe at the power of my Lord and God, and as I did so the sound of the storm seemed to fade in my ear. My mind was no longer fixed on the threat of the world, but instead it was fixed on the power and strength of my Deliverer.   

Sometimes we are brought to stormy days (sometimes literally even). Our Heavenly Father in His eternal wisdom allows such times to come to us, to remind us of just how mighty and powerful He is truly. Not only this, but that we can know His power and authority personally through His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ. He who holds all authority as given to Him by the Father, and so confirmed by the witness of the Holy Spirit. 

When we are reminded of Christ’s power, we are soothed of heart and encouraged of spirit to know that He is truly with us always, just as He promised. Amen.