Violent Batterings

“We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard…But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” Acts 27:18, 22

I don’t know about you but I know my present storm presents lots of ‘violent battering’. Frustration, exhaustion, uncertainty and helplessness are a few of the batterings associated with caring for the dreaded disease of Alzheimer’s. Each day brings a new set of challenges with fresh concerns. There are many of you out there with much greater storms than the one I am experiencing, but nonetheless, it is my storm.

Did you notice that as the battering grew in intensity, the inhabitants of the ship began throwing cargo overboard? We live our lives instilling a certain way of response to our situations that generally work for all circumstances. When a storm arises we quickly realize that many things we have relied on in the past no longer work. They are neither essential in our present life nor are they beneficial. In an effort to solve the problems of our adversity we throw everything we know at the storm. The more we search for resolution in our suffering the less control we seem to have. We look up one day and ask God, how did I get here? More importantly, HOW DO I GET OUT? We finally surrender and throw own wisdom and agenda overboard.

Once we surrender our adversity to God and realize that He controls the storm we experience His peace, His serenity and His blessings through our sacrifice. “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him!” Mark 4:41

Notice the last line that Paul implores to the participants in the adversity…only the ship will be destroyed. The ship represents the vessel of adversity to accomplish God’s purpose for the higher good. God is controlling everything according to His plan and His timing.

We may feel lost in the storm but we are never lost to the storm.