When the inner calm shakes and life seems over, God continues to lead. He continues to reach out. He continues to speak to us and calm our weary hearts. He continues even when we slow down and stop.

We must remember that God continues—in all our waverings, sidetracks, indecisiveness; in all the times we do not know what to do; in times when we feel inadequate; when we doubt ourselves and even doubt God—remember: God continues to be faithful.

Remember: the storms of life will continue. What is important is not how good our umbrellas are; how strong our boots are; how good swimmers we are. The most important is the strong Anchor that holds us; the loving arms that embrace us; the voice that assures and comforts us: “We are not alone.”

When the disciples encountered the storm at sea, in their fear and worry, they woke the Master and said, “We are drowning. Do you not care?” (Matt 8:23–27; Mark 4:35–41; Luke 8:22–25). Was Jesus not with them in the boat? Did Jesus not care for them in the past? Was he oblivious to the danger at hand? Were the disciples abandoned and left to drown in the storm?

Have you ever played the game where you are blindfolded and led by a person through a path filled with distractions: bottles, chairs, puddles of water? As you struggle to listen and focus on the one leading you, all around are other people shouting right and wrong directions.

What is important is focusing on the voice of the one leading you. What is even more important is trusting and keeping your hands in the hands of the person holding you, listening to his voice, trusting, and obeying. Imagine the amount of trust and faith needed in your absolute helplessness because you cannot see.

How about another game, where you are supposed to just let go, fall back into the arms of the one behind you, and expect him to catch you? Imagine the increasing helplessness experienced as you are falling and holding on to nothing.

Both games are seemingly played as we go through life serving the Lord. There will be many times we cannot see; we cannot hold on to anything we have built, and we do not know what to do. We are helpless amidst church scrutiny—people who expect us to be perfect, and those who are just expressing their good intentions.

We will never be perfect: I will not, you will not. This is why we need God so much. God knows. And so, he continues to be faithfully leading us, stubbornly loving us, patiently guiding us, quietly waiting for us to reach out to him, so that we can be at peace in the ever-growing storms of life as we continue to serve him.

Remember: storms will continue. But be at peace, be still. Our almighty, wise, and faithful God continues to hold us. Let us continue in the path that he has called us and serve him faithfully.

Remember Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Remember Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

We continue because God continues.

For Discussion

1. What are you afraid of?

2. Is God still worth trusting?

3. Take time to be still in your storm, trace God’s faithfulness, and completely hold on to him.