“Do you not yet have faith?”
In the previous lesson “Jesus in Control”, we hear of God’s power and authority over everything including nature. He is also in control of our souls, even when we are in the midst of the storms of life. On a deeper level, the storm that rages is like the storms that can rage in our lives. “All of God’s children embark with Christ on a life that is full of dangerous storms, especially attacks from evil spirits and temptations of the flesh. We must learn to trust in Christ daily, since he alone can restrain these forces and bring us to the safe harbor of salvation.” [1]
What kinds of storms do we face? It is different for each person, but we definitely all face storms. St. Augustine said, “…man in this life is encompassed with perils, arising from the temptations of hell – from the occasions of sin, from the scandals or bad counsels of men, from human respect, and above all from the passions of corrupt nature…” [2]
How do we overcome the storms in life? We overcome them through prayer. Prayer is when we reach for God instead of reaching for ourselves. “Christian, Christ is sleeping in your boat. Wake him, and he will rebuke the storm and peace will be restored.” [3] Some other practical advice would be “…when you find yourself assaulted by a violent passion…take whatever you can to avoid the occasions [of sin] and place your reliance on God…: when the tempest is violent, the pilot never takes his eyes from the light which guides him to port. In like manner, we should keep our eyes always turned to God, who alone can deliver us, from the many dangers to which we are exposed.” [4]
Discussion Questions
What storms have you prayed through?
How did God calm the storm in your heart and soul?
What if the storm does not stop? We must remember that everything God wills is good and thus good for our souls. “Worry, fear and cowardice arise when our prayer weakens. He knows well enough everything that is happening to us. And if need be, he will rebuke wind and sea, and a great calm will be established, and his peace will flood into us. And we too will be filled with awe like the apostles.” [5] More than anything we must always have an attitude that seeks forgiveness and calmness. Many times, the storms in our life are because of other people who have done something to us and we allow ourselves to be wrapped up in drama. We should not sit in our own hatred and storms but seek to forgive our neighbor for whatever they have done because they too have God who is with each of us. [6]
[1] Augustine, Sermo 51
[2] ibid.
[3] Augustine, Sermon, 361
[4] Augustine, Sermo 51
[5] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 3, 98.3
[6] cf. ibid.