“He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves” Ps. 107:29 NLT

What do you think of when you hear these four words, it’s the perfect storm, used to describe someone’s situation? Most of us would say something to mean the situation is not good, and there is a strong possibility it will get worse. When I hear “it’s the perfect storm” my mind goes to the movie based on a true story called – The Perfect Storm. It is about fishermen from a town in Massachusetts that set sail, and a storm comes upon them. Not just from behind, but also in front they are caught in the middle of the two storms colliding. The result is life ending because their fishing boat could not weather the wind, and waves. I won’t give any more of the movie away in case you have not seen it.

Yet, if you are a Christian the words perfect storm are often used to describe a situation in which the only thing left is God. Throughout the bible many were in situations that looked life ending. Life had carried them into the perfect storm where it appeared they would not recover from the circumstance, or situation.

Let’s look at a few women who found themselves in perfect storms. In the storm life gets loud, dark, and uncertain. Each one faced the storm with courage, certainty, and calmness. They were in situations they did not see coming, and could not control.

Rahab – is working as a prostitute in Jericho. All of a sudden she finds herself lying to the king’s guards while hiding the spies. Later her city is under siege, while she and her family are locked in her house. Her perfect storm was her past life and new life colliding. (Josh. 2) In Matthew chapter one she is listed in the lineage of Jesus. Her new life outperformed her prior life.

Ruth– finds herself a widow, and childless. She leaves her home country to go with her mother-in-law to a land she does not know. Ruth was leaving a past life on a new road that would introduce her to her Redeemer! The one which would give her and her mother-in-law a new life. Her perfect storm was the loss of her past life of comfort, familiarity, and security, to her new life towards the unknown. Her new life prevailed. (Ruth 1-4)

Esther – a young Jewish girl who hid her nationality, and later became Queen. As Queen she is not to see the king unless he summons for her, the results would be costly otherwise. She learns of a plot to kill all her people the Jews. She intercedes for them to the king, and they are spared. Her prefect storm is risking it all by going to the king without being summoned, revealing her nationality, and facing the possible fate that awaited for such an act, with victory for her people, and the realization that sometimes you have to take a risk, and speak up. (Esther 1-14)

“Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:14)

Elizabeth mother of John the Baptist – An older woman, past her child bearing age, who had no children with her husband; all of a sudden becomes pregnant. Her perfect storm was dealing with disgrace daily because she and her husband had no children, to a pregnancy late in life. To being the mother of John the Baptist who would be the front runner for Jesus. A barren life gives birth to a new life! (Luke 1)

Mary mother of Jesus – A young girl engaged to be married. A virgin. All of a sudden finds herself being visited by the Holy Spirit telling her she will become pregnant with God’s Son. She is now faced with telling her fiancé Joseph, and hoping he will believe her. Her perfect storm certainly came swooping in like a gale force wind. She is planning a wedding, a future, dreaming of children, parties, and dinners to now – telling her fiancé, her parents, and hoping they believe her, and will not stone her. Her perfect storm collided both worlds into one, and introduced Jesus into the world. (Luke 1:26 – 2:20)

In each of these women’s lives they were just living life as normal as they knew it to be. Then one day – one day – everything changed. They were faced with looking at their past, and comparing it to a new future. A new way of life. The contrast gave the appearance of a drastic change, but how this would all occur would be left for time to reveal. Each woman only had to trust in God, and embrace the new.

In a perfect storm you are caught in a situation in which you cannot control. It is where two worlds collide. You may be there now, in the middle of a perfect storm. Your life is caught in-between the past, and an unknown future. The swells are so high you can’t see over them to catch a glimpse of what is on the other side. The wind roars so loud that you can hardly hear yourself think. And with the movement of each day, until this storm passes and brings you to the other side, no amount of Dramamine will help. We will not be called to be the mother of the Messiah, or the mother of the one that would pave the way for the Messiah.

You very well may find yourself:

• interceding for another
• living a life you know is not worthy of who you are
• a life where men use you and/or abuse you
• abandoned, rejected, isolated, broke, jobless, homeless, childless, or locked in the captivity of sin.

Whatever your perfect storm is that is tossing you around batten the hatches, and like the women above- call upon God. Expect Him to show up, and embrace him like the disciples did.

“Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat; and immediately they arrived at their destination.” (Jn. 6:19-21 NLT)

If this is you, and today you are sitting in the middle of a perfect storm, let Him in the boat. He is the one that will calm the storm, and make your new life prevail!

 

©Gentle Whisper Ministries 2015, re-post 2/2017

 

*pictures by becuo, bible-women, usised-Oadz