Aye, Aye Captain Lt. James Lewis, CHC

I spent most of my adult life living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic.’ Such a beautiful place to live until hurricane season hits.

I recall a few years ago that a hurricane came through with powerful winds and big waves. One of the great frustrations following a storm is not just the damage it produces but the absence of electricity for a few days. Call me spoiled, but I have come to be dependent on electricity.

I remember after that particular storm, we went several days with no electricity in the humid August. The nights seem so dark, but I noticed a neighbor’s house down the beach that seemed to light up the sky.

The next day, I made my way to the neighbor because I noticed their lights were on and most importantly their air condition was running. “God bless their heart!” I asked how they had electricity when the other houses around us did not! They informed me that when the house was built a generator was built in the home.

I will never forget the statement that followed. “We have power on the inside that is not dependent on what is going on outside!”

Picture this… The sun is shining, the waters are calm, and the sound of the sea fills the air. It is a perfect day to be out on a nice boat ride.

Everything seems to be perfect, not a worry in the world. Then everything seems to change, a storm arises. What once seemed to be a peaceful getaway, has now turned into a stressful situation.

The boat is rocking, waves are crashing over the bow, how do you get out of the storm before it consumes you? In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 8:23-29, we read of the moment when Jesus caused a storm to cease.

It was late in the day, Jesus was tired from teaching, the disciples and Jesus had gotten on the boat to remove themselves from the crowds. Then a storm arose.

The disciples were terrified. Jesus was sleeping, what was he thinking? Although the conditions had changed, the promise had not.

The disciples allowed the conditions around them to change their perspective. The only thing that had changed since they first got in the boat was their surroundings. The Master of the Sea was still with them. Jesus arises from his sleep, calms the storm and questions the disciples’ faith. The disciple’s response is this...”Who then is this, even the winds and waves obey him?” The men that were closest to Jesus are asking, who is he?

Aren’t we much like the disciples? Life is going smooth, kids are acting right, the dog is listening, nothing is broken in the house, your job is going well, then boom, the storm hits. The kids act like they lost their mind, the dog runs away, one thing after another is falling apart. Our attitude changes, we get nervous, worried. What has changed is our circumstances, not the promise.

The disciples were worried in the boat and quickly forgot the one in the boat with them had just performed amazing miracles.

We do the same. We allow our current situation to dictate our perspective. We must not let the storms blur our vision, don’t forget all God has done in your life and how he has proven to be faithful.

I love the scripture in Deuteronomy 31 when Moses is talking to Joshua. “Be strong and courageous, don’t be terrified, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you. As Israel was heading into battle, Moses assured Joshua that no matter what he faced God went before him and would never leave him. What a promise!

Be encouraged today. “The winds and waves still know His name!”

No matter what your storm looks like, the captain is in the boat. His promise is assured, and His power is not dependent on what is going on outside!