Peace In the Midst of the Storm
Updated: Sep 13
Jade, I know you’re too young (3 months!) to know the story about Peter walking on the water in the midst of a storm, but let me give you a synopsis. The disciples were in a boat that Jesus sent ahead without Him, and a storm eventually settled over the boat. The disciples were very scared that they were going to die, but then they saw something floating on the sea. It was Jesus, coming to them, and walking on the water in the midst of the storm. They thought He was a ghost and were even more afraid. When Jesus confirmed that it was indeed Him and not a ghost, Peter asked Him something remarkable. He said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28 NKJV). Jesus responded by telling him to “Come,” and Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water, just like Jesus, with a peace he had probably never known before. Now here is the human part: Peter began to notice the storm and sink. He began to notice the wind, waves, the thunderclouds, and the rain, which led to fear. And that is what I want to talk about to you, especially in my experience. Fear is the opposite of peace. If you are in a storm of life, which is causing you to fear for your way of life, I want you to know that God is there in the midst of the storm, and He will save you if you cry out to Him. Peter, when fear set in, cried out for Jesus because he had lost his peace when he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on the storm. You have to go through many storms to make this realization, as I have. I have taken my eyes off God when I could see a storm approaching (I could always sense a storm approaching), and started depending on untested people, or on my “inner strength” to get me through a situation, with disastrous consequences. And I’m not going to lie to you; it is hard to stay focused on Jesus in the midst of a storm, at first. Peter had seen the power of Jesus firsthand, but what I found interesting is that somehow, in the midst of the storm, he tested himself in the presence of Jesus. Jesus didn’t tell him to step out of the boat before Peter made the suggestion; Jesus was just showing off the glory of God and somehow Peter knew that he could do the same in the presence of Him. How could Peter make that assumption?
As I pondered this, I began to think of my own past storms in life. I have fallen down many times, sometimes in disastrous ways, and somehow God lifted me back on my feet. But I can hardly remember a time when I was in a storm and I kept my composure. I was normally like the other disciples, in the boat fearing for my life, and, knowing the past miracles of Jesus that I had seen firsthand, yet still more afraid of the storm (and claiming to see ghosts). I usually panicked and made my situation much, much worse. I could understand my ignorance if I had never seen a miracle of God before, or I had never been saved by God in the midst of a storm of my own making, but I have had many examples of miracles in the midst of a storm, with you being one of them. And that’s when I realized at the age of 38, when I had found out that I was going to give birth to you, I became Peter, walking on the water in the midst of the storm for the first time in my life.
For the first time I had faith that I could carry you while dealing with my own struggles, both internally and externally. I must tell you that I reached out to every person that had the Holy Spirit in them, starting with your maternal grandmother, Nana. I also reached out to new friends, different churches and organizations, and extended family. Instead of focusing on my circumstances, which were precarious for many reasons, I focused on seeking God in every which way to make sure you would come out happy, healthy, and whole. I had to make some difficult choices, like separating from your father permanently, going to every doctor’s appointment while keeping a full-time job, and making my mental, physical, and emotional health my number one priority. I knew I was in a storm, but every storm passes, and I knew that if I obeyed God I would be okay. Actually, to be honest, I didn’t know I would be okay—I couldn’t see that far ahead—but I walked with a faith that I didn’t even know I had. It must have developed from being saved in previous storms. It’s only looking back that I can see that I was walking on the sea, focusing on Jesus.
So as much as this testimony was for you, it is just as much for me a reminder of God’s goodness and my growing faith. As I go through more storms in life, which are inevitable, I know that if I keep my eyes focused on Jesus, the storm will pass and God’s glory will be shown. You are a living, breathing miracle, and I must remind myself of that every time I find myself in a storm. Being in that storm wasn’t easy, and I almost began to sink many times, but Jesus took my hand until I made it safely to the shore and the storm passed. Keep your eyes on Jesus in the midst of the storm as well, and you will be able to walk on water with the peace of God in your heart. I cannot guarantee that each storm will get easier, but the process of overcoming it will. I love you Jade, and God loves you as well.
