After the Storm
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem entitled “The Rainy Day” we find this famous line which says “Into each life some rain must fall” meaning that everyone will experience difficulty and heartache at some point. Matthew 5:45 says “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust”. Just a sure as the sun will shine tomorrow just as sure as the breath you just took just as sure as death is inevitable – the storms and trials of life are sure to come your way. None of us are exempt from the storms of life.
Storms are not fun and often leave us with damage that we have to deal with in its wake. However, what is important for us to realize is that though the storms of this life come they bring valuable lessons that we cannot learn apart from them. Several years ago, my wife and I had a gazebo in our backyard it was sturdy, and we left it up year - round until it just dry- rotted. Recently we got another one that was not as strong or sturdy. I left it up during a storm one night and when I got up the next morning our gazebo had suffered damage. I learned that although it was a gazebo it could not handle the storm like the one we had several years ago. The storm will come but what will you learn after the storm.
Prayer:-
Scripture:- Mark 4:35-40 says “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full, And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”.
When the sea was calm, and the disciples were sailing they gave no thought to the fact that the Lord was keeping the seas calm. So many times, we go along in life and as long as things are smooth sailing in our lives God is given little consideration. Even some so-called Christians will only give God time on Sunday morning when things are going well. But when the storms begin to rage the prayer wheel keeps on turning. Just look at 2020, when the pandemic caused the world to literally shut down and the church doors along with everything else people were calling on the name of the Lord like never before. Making promises and trying to bargain with God saying Lord if you deliver us from this then I will serve you all the days of my life, but now that things are getting back to some form of normalcy the prayer wheels are suffering from flat tires, dry-rot and simply falling off. The attitude is now that the storm is over, we made we can just carry on with life. But making it through the storm is only the first step. To experience God’s best in this next season of our lives, you and I must be able to learn from the storms and use that information to grow spiritually.
In our text, Jesus was exhausted from all that He has been doing. He has just finished preaching, healing the sick, opening blinded eyes, unstopping deaf ears, healing lepers and dealing with the attacks and traps of the Pharisees. He is physically exhausted, and He tells His disciples let’s cross over to the other side. And they get into a boat and there are other little boats there with them and Jesus heads to the stern of the boat and falls asleep. After Jesus goes to sleep in the stern of the boat, a life-threatening storm suddenly erupts. It is so rough they take on water and the disciples feared they were going to sink and die. They wake Jesus and ask don’t you care that we will die. As Jesus gets up out of a dead sleep, He says three words - “Peace be still!” Now you know I have to go here 3 represents fulness. He demonstrated the full power and authority He has. The storm submits to the superior power of Christ, and they all make it safely to the other side.
We made it through all the craziness of 2020 and now in June of 2021 it seems as though we are beginning able to our feet on somewhat solid ground of a new season. We are ready to begin another chapter in our life story.
But making it through is only the first step. Remember, we must learn from the storm and grow from what the storm taught us which simply means we can’t just forget what we’ve been through. To grow from the storm we must carry into the next season some very important lessons learned from the storms we’ve been through.
We must learn that the Presence of Storms Doesn’t Mean God is Gone.
Storms usually cause us to ask where is God? Somehow, we have developed the ungodly idea that if God were present, we would not have to experience storms. That is not true. Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and yet they were experiencing a storm. I truly believed Jesus knew the storm was going to happen and used it as a lesson for the disciples to teach them valuable lesson. Understand the Bible said suddenly there arose a storm.
First of all nothing ever will or can catch God by surprises, it may catch us but never God because he knows the beginning from the ending, He is omniscient. So this storm suddenly came and they panicked; were fearful, felt they were going to die, and Jesus was in the boat with them all the time. So, the presence of the storm doesn’t mean God has gone or abandoned us. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t care.
It means like Isiah 43:2 says “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee”. WATCH THIS: - Even if your boat is taking on water and the fear of sinking into the deep has come upon you - you don’t have to fear you don’t have to fret because you will not sink. You may get rocked and tossed but rest assured you will not become shipwrecked. Even though the winds of adversity are howling loudly, they will not have the last word in your life – just call on Jesus and He will calm the storms in saying peace be still. So, you learn the presence of storms doesn’t mean the absence of God.
Love proven Faith increased.
The disciples questioned Jesus’ love! When they woke up Jesus, they asked him this question: “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” To which Jesus responded, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Think about these two questions.
“Master, carest thou not that we perish?” So many times when storms come we may feel that God doesn’t love us,
Matthew 5:45 says “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust”. What we do not understand especially during the storm is the purpose. When a storm comes in the natural it causes the ground to soften and allow the roots to penetrate deeper into the ground making them stronger and more durable to handle future storms that come.
After He rescued them by calming the wind and the sea, Jesus asked them something far more important: – How is it that you have no faith? I don't believe that Jesus was upset that they woke Him up; after all, we are supposed to take our cares and burdens to the Lord in prayer 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”. I believe that Jesus was questioning why they did not have faith in how much He loved them and cared for them.
I believe down on the inside that Jesus was saying How is it that you don’t have faith in Me? Or in how much I care for and love you? Jesus was saying, if you have faith in My love and faith in My care for you, you would trust that no matter how bad the storm is, you are going to make it to the other side! I feel Jesus was saying to the disciples and to us right now that we need to lean into to make it through the storms of our lives. When you don’t understand and can’t see your way through, and the storm doesn’t respond to your prayers, you will know that it’s just a matter of time before you say I don’t know how I’m going to get these bills paid but I know He loves me. I don’t know how I’m going to move on after this, but I have faith that He loves me and is going to deliver me out of this also. In other words, if we know how much He loves us, faith in Him will see us through every storm. Our faith will work if it’s anchored in His love for us. Because of His proven Love in past storms my Faith is increased, and I will make it through this one.
What the Devil sends to destroy you, God Will Use to Strengthen You
When Jesus said, Let's crossover to the other side, a sudden storm was sent to kill them. Ephesians 2:2 says,
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. Satan is the prince of the air |I believe the devil sent the storm to kill them and keep them from getting to the other side because he knew that on the other side there was an awesome deliverance waiting to happen. As they got on the other side, they were met by a man there who was possessed with a legion of demons that no one could help.
I feel that Satan sent that storm to stop them from setting that man free. In fact, it seems that is the number one reason Satan sends storms our way. Storms come to stop us from fulfilling our assignment, to block us from setting people free, to prevent us from walking in our destiny and fulfilling our purpose; therefore, he sends storms to try to stop us.
Jesus did not warn the disciples about the storm to come, he never said there is going to be trouble getting to the other side. He could have, yet He just let them sail into the storm because he was going to teach them something after the storm. It is without a shadow of doubt that Jesus demonstrated that any storm that He doesn’t stop from coming our way, cannot stop us! In fact, if He doesn’t stop it, He’s going use it for our good Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.
I believe that what the disciples witnessed during the storm and what they watched Jesus do for the man on the other side after the storm became foundational to their faith throughout their lives and ministries. What we learn in and after the storms in our lives strengthen us and gives s the ability to stand and having done all to stand.
I want to close with a few thoughts about the storms and what happens to us after the storm.
We are Stronger because of the Storm. You will not be the same as you were when the storm first came. You'll be stronger your faith will increase after the storm. Your spiritual roots will be able to go deeper in God giving you the ability to stand like Jeremiah 17:8 says, “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit”. This causes us to be better and wiser spiritually. So when need to declare to the storm in our life - I'm ready and I’m determined to lean into what I’ve learned as I grow into my next season.
Storms teach us real gratitude. It’s easy to be grateful when things in life are going well. When the bank account is full, bills are paid, cars are running properly and the blue bird on my shoulder is singing zip-a-dee-do-da zip-a- dee- day. But even during difficulties we can find things to be grateful for. Like when our gazebo suffered some damage we still had a house over our head and most importantly life in our bodies. Stopping to look for God’s good hand and keep a daily gratitude list helps us see that God is at work all around us even when circumstances are hard. While Paul was in prison that he Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content”. I don’t need to have more but I am satisfied with what God has allowed me to have and that is enough.
Storms teach us real peace. We think peace is when every thing is smooth and I am taking a nap on my couch on a Saturday afternoon. We must understand Peace isn’t the absence of difficulty, but is the awesome presence of God during our storms. The disciples felt they were going to die in the storm but when they called on Jesus they realized that their true peace was in the presence of the Lord. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which Passeth all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s presence brings peace even when circumstances are storming around us.
Storms teach us real strength. We can usually handle the mild annoyances and problems that surface on easy days. But trials bring us to the end of ourselves. It is in those times, we realize we’re completely dependent on God. We need him to give us wisdom, to replace our fear with faith and to give us strength to battle the storm. But that’s a good place to be. God designed us to be utterly dependent on him. I am reminded of the song that says “I’ve learned how to lean and depend on Jesus I found out if I trust him he will provide”. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”.
Storms teach us real faithfulness. It’s easy to quote the promises of God when life is good. But do they hold up in the hard times of life? In the storm we can see God’s faithfulness in ways we never see on sunny days. It’s in the storms we so often see God do things we couldn’t even ask or imagine. Psalm 25:10 says, “All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant”.
After the Storm we have a better Revelation of God. The disciples did not know that the wind and the water had to obey Mark 4:41 says “They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him”. This showed them a side of Jesus that they could not have seen without the storm. Unless you go through your own personal storm you will never truly understand God and how awesome he is. I say so many times I grew up in church I knew your to testify saying giving honor to God who is the head of my life, I thank God for being a lawyer in he court room and doctor in the sick room because that is what everybody said, but when I went through my own storm and I seen a revelation I never knew before my testimony changed to you don’t know like I know what the Lord has done for me.
Storms Give Us a Longing for Heaven Revelation 21:4 says, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”. My mother used to sing the song Never Grow Old. Storms cause tears and if we had no tears, we could not long for the day when God shall wipe away all tears. Sometimes storms cause death and if there was no death we wouldn’t know the joys awaiting us in a land where there is no death. Storms cause sorrow and without the heartaches, troubles and sorrow we wouldn’t be longing for a land where no sorrow can enter. Storms cause pain sometimes and if you had no pains, or ailments in this body you wouldn’t know the blessing of receiving a glorified body and dwelling in a land where we never will have those things again.
Conclusion: Are you going through a storm? Maybe the Lord sent you into this storm so that you will draw closer to Him. Maybe this storm is nothing more than an attack from Satan. Maybe it is just part of this life. Whatever it is, don’t give up. If the disciples had given up before they awoke the Master, they might have perished. They certainly would not have had the revelation that Christ is the Master of all. What is God trying to show you? What does He want you to learn after the storm? If you will trust in God lean into the fellowship, he desires to have with you and I, experience Him in the midst of this storm you just will experience what may be the best experience on this side of eternity it all depends on what you learn after the storm.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
