Storms; Opportunities of Greatness

Yesterday was an 'April Showers' flavored day, despite being May, bringing me out of my house in jeans and a sweatshirt.  It was rainy and cool outside.  

Preoccupied with a friend's troubled marriage, I was only partially listening to the radio as I pulled into the grocery store parking lot.  The breezy gray weather was suddenly matched by the words on the radio by Scott Krippayne, catching my attention "Sometimes God calms the storm, and other times calms His child."  It was a beautiful song, really.  And yet I wondered about life's storms...

A couple winter's ago I was asked to speak at a youth retreat.  As I prayed about what to teach on, I felt prompted to teach on the Peters.  Yes, both of them- Peter in the Bible who walked on water with Jesus in the storm and Peter Parker - aka 'Spiderman'.  This was going to be interesting...

I studied the disciples' reaction when they witnessed Jesus walking on water during a raging storm.  Jesus' disciples are in a boat in the middle of the sea during the darkest hours of the night, exhausted from rowing when- BAM! - They see Jesus taking a late-night stroll.  On the water.  In the storm. I'm sure some draws dropped, eyes bugged, and prayers were said.

Jesus then calls Peter out of the boat with a challenging glint in His eyes, "Show me what ya got."    

I wonder if Jesus singled out Peter intentionally or if He would've invited them all to walk on the stormy sea, had they only asked.  Perhaps Jesus knew that their faith would grow by watching their peer perform the miraculous.  Maybe Jesus DID actually invite the group out and they were too dumbfounded and doubting.  Maybe, just maybe, they wanted to sit where they felt safest and wait for Jesus to make them comfortable and safe right where they were.  If He was God, after all, He should know how weak and unable they really were.

Now, I'm not judging.  I don't know what was really going on with the boys in the boat.  I can only address the humanness and doubt that I despise in myself.  Would I be Peter and actually get OUT of the boat?  Or would I sit in the boat paralyzed with fear, even though I saw Jesus performing the miracle of walking on water right in front of me?  Would I have doubted the fact that His power could extend to me as well?  To mere mortal, unimportant me?

Peter Parker, on the other hand, is a nerdy guy who gets bit.

He had no choice in the matter, whatsoever.  He's minding his own business and gets pricked with super awesomeness.  It takes him a while to figure out how to use his new powers but once he does, he's a man on a mission.

I imagine that God appreciates superheroes. He is the one that created man in His image and gives His people spiritual giftings and skills to use in very extraordinary ways.  Unfortunately, people would rather be ordinary.  It's safer.

People that don't settle for ordinary are given special treatment and dangerously propped on pedestals as  it's easier to watch someone else's journey than live your own - like the disciples who sat in the boat.

Let's unpack this a bit, shall we?

1) Sorry to be a downer but we're all average.  We all struggle with sin.  We all struggle with pain, loss, and hate the evils in this world.  We're all created uniquely with various strengths and abilities but we all go through storms.

2) When we do follow Christ with our lives, we are given spiritual gifts - abilities beyond ourselves to show off God's awesomeness to a world that needs hope.  Like Peter Parker, we'll fall, hit walls, and find ourselves spinning wildly out of control while we figure out, exercise, and use these gifts to bless others ultimately bring glory to God.

3) People notice when you do something WAY beyond your capabilities.  That's the whole point of spiritual gifts.  They are 'powers' beyond ourselves intended to open people's eyes to God's coolness and point people to Him!  When you step out in faith, it gives other people courage to step out in faith.  Courage is contagious!

These gifts are never to be a source of pride or be misused.  As Uncle Ben says, "With great power, comes great responsibility." Or better yet, God's Word says, "To whoever much is given, much will be required" - Jesus (Luke 12:48)

What I'm saying is this; storms happen.  Life just stinks sometimes.  It's rough.

Sometimes the storm happens before we get in the boat and we row into the middle of the lake anyway.   Not smart.  We need to observe the weather and engage the mental faculties that God gave us.

 Storm + Boat = Bad Idea  

Other times we find ourselves out in the middle of the lake and a storm blindsides us.  This can indeed be one of those times where God wants to show Himself to us.  We often need reminders that:
1) He's in charge and we are not
2) He is able and can calm the storm if it's His will.  He may want you to learn something in the storm.
3) We will experience storms and He wants to be our comfort.  

Another option is this- He allows the storms in life so we have opportunities to pray like crazy, growing in our relationship with Him while we practice faith and get our wussy butts out of the boat and start walking on water.

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Resources you may Enjoy:
*"Sometimes God Calms the Storm by Scott Krippayne.  Complete lyrics are here
*Article "Why Are We Afraid?" by Max Lucado on ChristianityToday.com 
*Resource: A complete chart on Spiritual Gifts - what they are and are not, why we have them, what they look like, what their purpose is, etc.

Question:  What is the biggest lesson you've learned from one of life's storms?