The Storm

THE STORM

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. (Psalm 69:1-3)

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:22, 24-27)

The darkness seems impenetrable. All around turmoil and chaos reign. The violent wind buffets and wounds relentlessly, the murky waters rise up stinging the flesh and threatening to take you down into their fearful depth. The darkness closes in like a heavy blanket, growing thicker by the minute, until nothing makes sense anymore.

You know there are others nearby, but your aloneness crushes down upon you mercilessly until the anguish becomes unbearable and your soul screams out "Lord, where are you? What am I doing in this place? Surely the enemy has me trapped in this pit. Save me or I will perish here!"

At the height of your confusion an unexpected form draws near. You are weary of fighting, your bones ache, your mind accuses you of weakness and fear; nevertheless you brace yourself as the spectre approaches. Your soul groans: how much more testing can I take? What new tormenting devil must I now contend with? "Lord, you promised I would not be tested beyond what I could endure - strengthen me to face whatever lurks there in this deep darkness."

And God said "Let there be light. And there was light" (Genesis 1:3)

But out of the darkness, at last, comes the longed-for sound of that familiar Voice:

"IT IS I"

The sound of His Voice floods your spirit with peace and rest. And with the Voice comes Light -

Light so intense and powerful that momentarily you are blinded.

"IT IS I"

Not a devil after all! It's Him! And suddenly the wind has lost its menace and the darkness is receding, bowing before the Light Himself.

But wait...

How is it, Lord, that you come to me out of this darkness?

"IN THIS PLACE ALSO, I AM LORD"

And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:5)

He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. (Psalm 18:11)

But Lord, I thought I was contending with the enemy, I thought this

was a place of high level warfare.

I even thought perhaps.....

well, perhaps I wouldn't get through.…..

"SO YOU WERE, AND SO IT WAS,

BUT ONLY FOR AS LONG AS I ALLOWED"

You were in the darkness?

"I WAS IN THE DARKNESS

AND IT WAS I WHO SENT YOU INTO THE DARKNESS.

I WOULD NOT SEND YOU SOMEWHERE I WOULD

NOT GO MYSELF."

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him. (Matthew 14:22)

Lord, it's a painful place,

a place of confusion and hopelessness,

and......

"DESPAIR?"

Yes Lord

"I KNOW"

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (Luke 23:44)

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many
bulls have surrounded me: strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They gape at me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it has melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue clings to my jaws; You have brought me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me: the congregation of the wicked has enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones: they look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:11-18)

And with the coming of the Light, revelation begins to grow.

Lord, you led me into the darkness? Why?

"SO YOU WOULD MEET ME AS LORD IN THAT PLACE;

SO YOU WOULD KNOW THE DARKNESS CANNOT CONSUME YOU, JUST AS IT DID NOT CONSUME ME;

AND SO I WOULD SHINE IN YOU EVEN BRIGHTER

THAN BEFORE.

IS THIS LAST THING NOT WHAT YOU ASKED ME FOR?"

Yes.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:2)

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. (Matthew 13:43)

Lord, you were Lord even on the Cross, weren't You?

"YES, LITTLE ONE".

The Light is smiling.

"COME, IT'S TIME TO WALK ON THE WATER"

Him who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Ó Copyright Cheryl McGrath and Great South Land Ministries, 2002
southland@greatsouthland.org
www.greatsouthland.org

This article may be reproduced freely without alteration or omission,