Sometimes it takes the storms in our lives to remind us how much we need God

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be you, bid me come to you on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.Matthew 14:29

Sitting by the lake, riding the gentle waves in our sail boat, or reading a good book in the hammock gently swinging in the breeze are all reminders of what vacations are like. Not a care free worry to think about except how much our loved ones mean to us. 

When those gentle waves suddenly turn violent and that hammock you found restful just moments ago suddenly throws you out as the gale force winds pick up you begin to panic and worry. 

The sudden loss of a loved one can seem like riding  in a dangerous storm  in a boat we try so disparately to stay afloat. The storm it seems never ends. We watch others sitting in their sail boats on gentle waves with not a carefree worry in the world and wonder aloud "Why God!?" "Why me!?"We question God's love for us because if He really loved me He would stop these storms and still the water. 

It is while we are in the midst of the storms that some of the greatest lessons in life are learned. Peter certainly learned them. When the Sea of Galilee suddenly turned violent and threatened to swamp their fishing vessel all hope was lost until Peter saw Jesus walking on the water toward him.  When Peter began sinking after trying to follow Jesus's lead by walking on the water he called out to God to "save me"  Sometimes that is the only thing we can muster when the storms threaten to swamp us. 

The storm, it seems, wakens us to the reality that we really need God in our lives.   When our family experience our sudden, unexpected loss we learned that allowing God to draw near to us was the only solace we could find. Nothing else mattered in life.  Self actualization didn't matter. Burning incense in a darken room didn't matter. Practicing yoga didn't matter.

Calling out to God like Peter did was the only thing that mattered.  If you are in a sail boat on a gentle lake please remember that storms do come and when they come it doesn't  have to be the end.  The storm just may be the greatest moment in time where God reminds you how much He loves you. Peter certainly learned that lesson.