Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Sometimes He Calms the Storm by Charles Arndt


Angie here. My husband’s devotional was accepted for ChristianDevotions.us. I'm so proud of him, I’ve posted it below with their permission. But I'm not just posting it because I'm a proud spouse. You may remember that my theme for 2012 is “fear not.” It seems that every time I turn around, God is telling me to be strong. It's even the central truth of my husband's devotional.

So, what am I afraid of in my writing journey? Oh, just starting, ending, editing, failing. I’m afraid of letting people down and afraid of letting myself down. But mostly I’m afraid of letting God down.

And yet, God still speaks to me.
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26 
Buckets of rain crashed sideways into the side of the house. The wind howled a mysterious sound. It was one thirty A.M. and flashes of lightning illuminated our dark bedroom. It was a storm. A bad one.

"Should we go to the basement," my wife asked? 

"Uh-huh" I replied. 


She quickly gathered our twelve-pound red poodle and started toward the basement. I grabbed a flashlight and guided her down the cellar steps. There in the corner of the basement we listened to the thunder crash. Flashes of lightning illuminated the room as the storm howled overhead. I prayed the Lord would look after us and take care of us. Then, as suddenly as it came, the storm was gone. 

After we emerged through the darkness from the basement, I sat in the comfort of my easy chair and watched the lightning move farther and farther away. I was in awe of God's power. 

Man, in all of his wisdom and knowledge, cannot come close to producing anything like we had just witnessed. I remembered the time Jesus and his disciples sat in a boat while a fierce storm tossed the craft back and forth. They, like us, were scared, but He was with them. In their fear, the disciples woke Jesus and pleaded for safety. “Where is your faith,” Jesus asked and then told the storm to be still. Instantly the storm listened and the waters were calmed. 

If He is so powerful that even the storms and weather listen, what's our excuse? Shouldn't we pay attention when he tells us something? O ye of little faith. Listen and see what He tells you to do. Sometimes it's hard to hear through the noise and distraction of the storm but He always answers, in His time. Listen and have faith. He is in control. 


Are you afraid today? Is God still speaking to you?



Charles Arndt enjoys writing Christian devotionals, hunting, fishing and riding his Harley. He and his wife, Angie, live in the middle of a big wood outside a small town in South Carolina.