Typhoon

Paul is on his way to Rome aboard a boat of fellow prisoners and Roman guards. When the ship comes into a violent storm, and the rest of the ship panics and completely losses their appetite in despair (Acts 27:20-21), Paul stands calm within the storm—his peace secured by his Savior who is with Him (Mat 28:20), the Lord of the storm (Mat 8:23-27).

“Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told.”
–Acts 27:25

I am finishing up the “Christian Heroes Then and Now” biography on Jacob DeShazer with the family in the evenings. Jacob DeShazer was one of the Dolittle raiders that dropped bombs on Japan in World War II and was captured in China and placed in the torturous Japanese POW camps until the end of the war. While in prison, he came know Christ, and so returned to Japan as a missionary once the war ended. Last night we read that “In 1959 a typhoon slammed into central Japan. Jake and [his wife] Florence lay in bed praying as the wind howled around the house.” Their children remained “sound asleep.“ Jake and Florence’s bedroom sprung a leak, and the roof over the kitchen was torn off, but “the rest of the house stayed intact.“ The next morning they went out to surmise the devastation in their community. Many houses were ravaged but he storm, some completely removed from their foundation. Jake noticed that “some of the women who normally took good care of their appearance” were disheveled, stumbling through the rubble. Some admitted to Jake, “they had spent the entire night screaming.“ They asked Jake, “What did your wife do?“ Jake simply responded that they “prayed together and trusted God to protect [them].” Then the women asked about the children. “Surely they were very afraid.“ Jake simply shook his head and admitted that they slept right through the storm. “The women were amazed, and several of them became interested in the DeShazer‘s Bible study as a result of their calm faith under pressure.“

If we are in Christ, we are not exempt from the storms of life that rage against sinful humanity. Rather, we are sent into them (John 17:18; 20:21). For we are to be a light unto the world (Mat 5:14-16). But how will they know unless someone tells them (Rom 10:14). And so we must enter the storms of darkness as fellow companions so that we can lead them to the light of life (John 8:12). For we know the One who created both the day and the night (Gen 1:4-5), who rules over the storms of this world (Psa 107:23-32), who brings about both peace and calamity (Isa 45:7)—and we are His beloved children (Rom 8:16; Eph 5:1; Psa 103:17).

Take courage that God will do just as He said. He is with us, even in the storm (Psa 48:14). He has great reward and blessings in store for those who remain steadfast and endure in faith (Heb 10:34-39).

Enter His mission today with bold contentment (2Co 12:10) to whatever comes your way.