Healing from the Storm
Where do you run for shelter when the storms of life rage around you? From whom do you seek comfort and peace? Where do you find your healing?
In the midst of the storm, it can be nearly impossible to see clearly. We tend to forget what is true and believe the lies our fears whisper in our hearts.
You may feel like you brought this storm upon yourself. Like the loss of a loved one was your fault or that you deserved the abuse you’ve endured. Maybe you think that if your faith was stronger or if you just took better care of yourself, your mental health would not be suffering as it is.
Please listen when I say this: it is not your fault. You are not living in the eye of the storm because of anything you did wrong.
We don’t always know why we endure such terrible suffering in our lives, but that does not mean that we are completely helpless in the midst of them.
In the Gospel of Mark, we read about Jesus calming a literal storm raging around the disciples. Mark sets the scene for us quite well.
Jesus and the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat when a great windstorm arose, causing the waves to crash into the boat filling it with water. The disciples were completely terrified, but not Jesus (Mark 4:35-38).
The disciples run to the stern of the boat to find Jesus asleep. They wake him crying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38, ESV). At their cry for help, Jesus awoke and rebuked both the wind and the sea.
“Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39, ESV). At His command, the wind ceased at once. The waters were completely still and there was a great calm upon the sea.
The same Christ who has the authority to calm literal storms has the power to calm your storms of life. You must simply do as the disciples did and cry out to Him for help.
But God does not always heal us from our storms miraculously or all at once. He certainly has the ability to, but sometimes it requires us to be active in the healing process.
Seek help from professionals and seek counsel from trusted friends and trained counselors. Seek Jesus, the one who has the power to provide immeasurable comfort and strength as you heal from your storms.
When you feel that you have no control over your circumstances as they rage around you, call out to the one who is in control and hear Him speak over you, “Peace! Be still!”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
