One of the things I have learned on my journey to the cross is that “storms of life” are real. Life rarely “works out” the way we desire and we spend time with anguish in our spirits and souls over life issues:
1. The death of a friend or loved one.
2. Family crisis and issues that are difficult to resolve.
3. Work issues that create an atmosphere of anxiety rather than security.
4. Relational realities and temperament issues that create distance particularly in the work arena.
5. Hard questions of life that have seemingly no answers.
6. “Storms of life” that become overwhelming.
What are we to do as the “storms of life” rumble all around us? Charles Wesley has an answer. In the words of one of his many hymns, he provides us a direction. As United Methodists celebrate the anniversary of his 300th birthday and sing over and over hymns he penned…we marvel at his poetic reminders of the love of God. Reportedly, he wrote between 6,000 to 9,000 hymns. Most of his hymns points to his own “heart-warming” experience of conversion to Christ.
One such hymn is “Jesus, Lover of my Soul.” It is this hymn that speaks of the Lord as a refuge in the storm. Reportedly, while at sea in the midst of a storm the story is told that Charles noted a bird flying into his cabin in the midst of a “storm” at sea. This bird comes to the safety of the cabin. Charles notes that coming to Christ is much the same. Listen to the words of the verse:
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly, while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high! Hide me, O my Savior, hide…till the storm of life is past; safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last.
Is there one who understood the source of strength in the midst of storms better than our Lord? Greeted by shouts of Hosanna on his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the storms will begin as shouts of greeting turn to jeers and suspicions. People will try to trap him with his own words. He will be accused of blasphemy because he speaks of a faith with which people are unfamiliar. By Friday, the palms waving as a greeting to a king will change to thumbs-down gestures that call for death. Through all these storms, Jesus remains faithful. Even from the cross facing death he declares “It is finished.”
The Lord did everything God wanted him to do. In spite of the storms Jesus holds onto the Father and knows the storm will end and peace will come. That is our faith. Storms come and storms go. They do not come to stay. Our anchor in the midst of the storm is Jesus Christ. That is part of the Lenten journey—to walk with him on Palm Sunday and to stand with him on Good Friday.
Reliving the joy and sorrow this week is important. Those days did not bring physical pain and suffering for us. We had someone standing in our place. I, for one, am eternally grateful.
Ken