Battered by the storms of life-standing firm in the presence of my Lord

Perhaps, like many others, you are still recovering from our recent windstorm which even led to a “Declaration of Disaster Emergency” by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. Many suffered power outages from the winds and the cold which began on Saturday morning and blew hard through Monday evening. The storm caused much damage and destruction. Perhaps you saw the pictures of the overturned semi-trailers and airplanes. Maybe you glimpsed pictures of the Palmer Carrs-Safeway Grocery store covered in ice from broken pipes. You may have driven by trees that were blown down, many falling on electric lines. You might have seen in person, or through pictures, damaged fences and buildings. Imagine the power it took to blow apart the Wasilla Kentucky Fried Chicken! According to the weather.com website on Sunday morning winds were 40-50 miles an hour, with gusts to 80 mph. But, I heard many reports of winds of a higher speed. And, how can we know how strong the winds blew? The winds destroyed the weather station in Palmer!

Our family has experienced such windstorms in the past, though this one may have been more destructive than any I remember. In fact, Borough Manager, John Moosey, was quoted as saying in a press conference on Monday morning, “I’ve never seen a winter storm this bad.” (The Frontiersman, January 3). My wife, Kathy says, “When the wind blows with this force in the south, weathermen give the storms names and call them hurricanes. Here, they just say, ‘The wind is blowing in Palmer.’”

We did not lose power at our home, though others in our family and church friends lost power. We suffered other damage. But, on Monday morning as I was eating breakfast and reading my devotions in the middle of the storm, the readings were interestingly appropriate. The Old Testament reading for that day was from 1 Kings 19 where Elijah has run from Queen Jezebel. After strengthening by an angel, he arrives at Mt. Horeb. Elijah is staying and hiding in a cave when the Lord speaks to him. Among the words of our Lord to Elijah which I read on Monday were those from 1 Kings 19:11-12 “11 The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. Imagine that! “ . . . a great and powerful wind which tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord.” I felt like I knew what Elijah experienced, at least a little bit.

The Gospel Lesson for devotions on Monday was from John 6, beginning with verse 15. After Jesus has fed the 5000, he sent His disciples across the sea of Galilee while He remained and prays. We are told of the disciples, “16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’” (John 6:16-20) In a second reading on Monday I read about “a strong wind blowing.” I sensed the voice of my Lord speaking to me.

First, in 1 Kings I read, “the Lord was not in the wind.” Yet, the Lord was with Elijah through those destructive winds, speaking to him ultimately through a gentle whisper. Secondly, in spite of the danger of the storm and the fear of the wind from the disciples, Jesus was with them and He brought them to safety.

Our lives are full of storms. Some are storms of weather, and some are storms of life. As we look at a new year and the storms which we may face, God strengthens us with the assurance the He is with us. That is who Jesus is after all, “Immanuel — which means God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) The Christmas miracle is that Jesus “17 . . . had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18) Jesus became a man who suffered and was tempted, who has faced our storms. Jesus overcame our temptations, our suffering, our storms, on the cross and in the empty tomb. This Jesus who has experienced and understands our trials, who has overcome them, who atones and pays for our sins, is with us when the winds of life blow.

On Tuesday as I talked and met with people, many of them told me how they were somewhat dazed, numb from the winds. We listened, we prayed for each other, and we cared for each other. We could do this because Jesus is “Immanuel — which means God with us.” He is with us in His love and His power through the storms of life.