He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. – Mark 4:39 NIV. Adventures, beaches, casual clothes, desserts, easy living, fishing, graduations, holidays, beginning of summer camps, umbrellas, vacations and weddings are all synonymous with the month of June.
These are pleasant activities and events. But, in recent history in South Florida, June also marks something that is very scary.
June is formally the beginning of the hurricane season and weather forecasters have already predicted that this may be a year of above-average activity, with between 13-20 named hurricanes.
Our country has already been hounded and pounded by several disasters, such as floods and tornadoes, and so many feel that the trend of natural trouble will continue. States like Oklahoma and Missouri have been hit more than once in less than a year.
Those of us who live in South Florida are naturally afraid of storms, as well, because we know from firsthand experiences the damage storms such as hurricanes can cause.
Hurricanes also present us with the almost unbearable pain of uncontrolled inconvenience. So, we brace ourselves each year for the “noise” that accompanies storm activity: television news flashes, radio announcements, advertisements, clinging shutters, generator checks, the sound of saws cutting trees and shrubbery – here noise, there noise, almost everywhere there is noise, noise. And the noise does not stop for nearly six months.
We know about noise and we typically don’t like noise. Noise disables, disarms, disappoints, discomforts, discourages, disheartens, displeases, disrupts, distorts, distracts, distresses and disturbs.
So, in the Christian scriptures, when Jesus is traveling with his followers in a boat and a storm comes up, He blesses them with the promise that they will successfully reach the other side, despite the trouble. Then he blesses the disciples with his presence. They are not left alone to deal with the noise and the nastiness of the storm.
And what Jesus said to His disciples, the winds, and the storms was: Before I handle your negative situation, let’s get rid of the noise.” He actually said “peace” before He said, “Be still.”
So, tell your agony, your enemies, your burden, your challenge, your storm that Jesus said, “Be quiet.” You have His promise, and His presence, and yes, His power to handle your situation – and His peace.
The Lord is in charge of all storms, both natural and spiritual. So, when the external and internal storms of life are raging in June and year-round, viciously, and uncontrollably in your life, the Spirit of the Omnipotent Who abides in you will also respond to your cry. He will speak to your storms and then teach you how to speak to your own storms. And they will obey.
It doesn’t matter what your storm’s name is – Hurricane Anxiety, Hurricane Down’s Syndrome, Hurricane Cancer,
Hurricane Disappointment, Hurricane Error, Hurricane Failure, Hurricane Gloom, Hurricane Hurt. Jesus can calm your sea and quiet your storm. Encourage yourself and tell your storm, “Be quiet!”
'The Lord is in charge of all storms, both natural and spiritual. So, when the external and internal storms of life are raging in June and year-round, in your life, the Spirit of the Omnipotent Who abides in you will also respond to your cry.'
Walter T. Richardson is pastor-emeritus of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in South Miami-Dade County and chairman of the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board. He may be contacted at wtrichardson@Bellsouth.net. Website: WTRMinistries.com
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