“Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat.” John Ortberg

Wow! I resonate with this quote, don’t you? How many storms have you weathered in your lifetime? I venture to say you’ve been through dozens. I know I have. I’ve experienced thunderstorms, tornados, blizzards, horrendous windstorms that knocked out power lines, and even an earthquake. I live in West Michigan where earthquakes are almost unheard of, but they do happen on very rare occasions. Thankfully, I’ve never witnessed a tsunami or a hurricane, and hope to keep it that way.

Storms – there are plenty of them in life, and I’m not talking about just those that are common to weather and our everyday environment. I’m talking about the storms of life that unexpectedly sneak up on us: heartbreak, divorce, chronic illness, loss of a loved one, shattered relationships, pain, disease… I suppose I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

What do you do when an unwelcome storm ravages your life? Do you crumble under the weight of it or find a means for coping? How do you find peace in the middle of it – or do the waves so sweep over you that you find it almost impossible to stay afloat? I’ll tell you what I do. I look to the Author of peace, my Creator and my Savior. Isaiah 43:2 says: “When you go through the deep waters, I will be with you.” God WILL go with you through your storm. You need not fear. He will give you strength when you most need it if you trust Him, and you’ll find a sweet, unrelenting peace when you place all your hope and faith in Him.