I am not a fan of thunderstorms! I do enjoy a nice, quiet and gentle rain – especially if I get to lay in bed and read a good book while I hear the rain in the background. Once you add the sound effects of thunder and lightning though, I lose my sense of relaxation. In fact, I tense up and jump as the thunder snaps. We had the pleasure of encountering one of these storms the other evening as we were driving. The sky was alive with electrically charged and vivid displays of white heat as lighting sizzled across the black sky. This was followed immediately by the loudest sonic booms that I believe I have ever heard. The highway shook underneath us from the power of this storm (maybe that’s exaggerating a bit, but it very well could have been shaking). A few minutes later, the rain fall became more forceful until it turned into hail. This was a severe thunderstorm, in the words of the emergency message that sounded a few minutes later over the radio (thank you, National Weather Alert System!). As I watched nature’s drama taking place outside the windshield while gripping the seat with white knuckles, my husband said, “relax”. Huh? Are you kidding me? Who could relax in all of this cosmic chaos? “Relax. You are in the safest place,” he said again. Whoa! I surely did not feel relaxed and I may be slow on the uptake, but what was safe about this situation? I know that my wide-eyed look of horror must have conveyed this question to him, because he continued, “you are surrounded by rubber tires which grounds you and prevents the lighting’s electricity from harming you.” That sounded familiar. I do remember hearing that from childhood and oddly enough, I started to calm down. My husband has that ability. He is truly my rock!
I have another Rock! He is my anchor in a troubled storm. He gives me peace when chaos is all around me. “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
Mark 4:35-40 tells the story of a violent storm: 
35 And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Jesus is our example of how we should live our lives – in every aspect of our daily activities. I believe that many lessons can be learned from this story but the most obvious truth is plainly spoken by Jesus. “Why are you so fearful? Why don’t you have faith?” Even in His sleep, He was not afraid when everything around Him was swirling with unsettledness and danger. This is the model by which He shows us how to live. We are not to be afraid of anything for He holds us in the palm of His hands. Nothing can harm us for He is our great Defender and Deliverer! What are you afraid of today? Give your fears to the Master of the wind and the Maker of the rain. He will keep you in perfect peace when you are focused on Him!
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
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