Surviving the Storm

Have you ever had a storm hit your life so hard that you felt you had little or no control over your life?  Often people loose hope when life suddenly and violently seems out of control.   At that point many give in, stop fighting, and let themselves be "driven along" - like the sailors and passengers on the ship in Acts 27.  At first, we struggle and hope we can endure. Then, we just want make it to the end.

In Acts 27, the sudden storm was violently tossing Paul's ship to the point the sailors stopped trying to steer the ship on their predetermined course. They gave up their destination and let the storm push them wherever the wind wanted. As the storm worsened, they attempted to save their lives by throwing the cargo overboard.  When that did not bring the expected relief or a sense of safety, the fearful and demoralized sailors threw the ship's tackle into the tempestuous waves. The storm did not slacken nor was there any improvement in their ship's safety. The frightened and desperate men lost all hope of being saved. The men were at the complete mercy of forces beyond their control or influence.

Acts 27 says the storm gradually took their hope and left them abandoned - aimlessly driven through the sea.  For some of us, a sudden and violent "storm" can over take our life and blow our faith right out the window. When we loose hope, our faith becomes worthless. Faithless, we are driven aimlessly by the winds and pressures of life.  If the devil can take our hope, he takes our future.  No longer are we a victor. We become a victim; demoralized and fearful. We begin throwing things and, sometimes people, "overboard" in a desperate attempt to reach a place of "safety" in our thinking, in our emotions, and in relationships. This is often the condition of the people who enter my life and ministry.  

When someone comes to me for formational prayer, I have the tremendous privilege of leading them to the feet of Jesus Himself.  I have the joy of coming along side those who have been beaten down and made hopeless by the storms of life.  It is through care giving and intense prayer that Jesus wraps his arms around them and leads them to safety. He is the one who saves!  Did you know that the word safety in Hebrew is 'yasha'; the root word for Yeshua. Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus!  Jesus is the one and only place of safety and security for the broken and wounded heart. 

Our ministry offers hope to those who have lost all hope.  Paul, unlike the others on the ship, had not lost hope. He was not fearful nor was he demoralized. He was the only one on the ship who had peace!  Paul had peace because he had heard from the Lord. Paul knew they were going to survive the storm. Through the healing care ministry, the broken are able to hear Jesus speak truth into their hearts about the reality of their circumstances. Where there is truth, hope is born anew and people are set free! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEFcDHL6mfg

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