The Calm Before the Storm

As I sit here sipping a cup of hot coffee in the early morning darkness, it is peaceful, calm, and quiet. No wind. No rain. A pleasant 70 degrees.

But…

We know it is just the calm before the storm.

In the background my TV is on and WFLA’s Amanda Holly is showing the projected path of hurricane Milton. Currently it’s a category 5 hurricane, 85 miles NE of Progreso, Mexico, moving NNE at 12 miles an hour with wind speeds up to 185 miles an hour.

Many of the models have Milton hitting Tampa Bay  around 2:00 AM Thursday. While it’s projected to weaken to a Category 3 at landfall, it’s still a powerful storm.

Earlier a reporter from Bay News 9 was interviewing Eric Alberts, VP of Emergency Management for Orlando Heath at Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. She asked Alberts what we should do as the storm approaches. He was direct and succinct. “Avoid fear. Plan now.”

We have access to all this information because of our modern means of communication and the technology of satellite transmission to track these storms. Imagine living in an earlier era without these capabilities and warnings. Drinking coffee. A calm morning. Not a care in the world. Then it starts to rain a little. Then a lot. The winds pick up. The waves of the sea are increasing as they lash the shore. The winds become more intense. Soon you realize you’re in the middle of a fierce and powerful storm.

To me, the storms are a metaphor for life. Except, like in earlier days before storm trackers, we often don’t have advance warning. Everything is peaceful and calm. Then there is a phone call that wakes us out of sleep with tragic news. A visit to the doctor who says, “It’s cancer.” A drunk driver crosses the median and there’s a fatal crash. A young person meets an untimely death. A gunman goes on a rampage and innocent lives are snuffed out in an instant. A financial investment goes south. A friend betrays you. Seemingly without warning, a spouse says, “I want a divorce.”

These real life scenarios interrupt our peaceful life and shake us to the core. Yet, when we observe life and listen to the counsel of Scripture they’re really not unexpected. The ancient Patriarch Job opined, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (14:1). Furthermore, Jesus warned the apostles, “In this world you will have trouble” (Jn. 16:33). However, he promised them He would help them in time of tribulation.

Eric Alberts recommendation in facing hurricane Milton is pretty good advice spiritually as we face the storms of life. “Avoid fear. Plan now.”

Jehovah’s words to the prophet Isaiah can comfort us in both types of storms. Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you.” (Isa. 41:9).

Remember “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

If you’re not living in the path of a present storm, get ready because at some point your peaceful world will be disrupted. Oh, not necessary by a hurricane or some powerful force of nature, but by some trial, tribulation, or trouble that suddenly appears.

The time to prepare is now. Study. Learn. Grow. Pray. Worship. Exercise spiritually and “grow in grace and knowledge.” Develop the inner resources that will sustain you when the storm comes.

Norma Jean asked me yesterday when we were out taking care of business, “What’s our plan?” I reminded her we’re about 20 miles inland. We’re 130 feet above sea level. Our house has been built according to hurricane standards. We have water, food, and are prepared if the power goes out. We’re going to hunker down and ride it out.

Sometimes, that’s all you can do. Either with literal storms. Or spiritual storms.

Yep. It’s calm this morning. But the storm is coming.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman