And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

Mark 4:39 NIV

The deep sea fishing trip set out at 6:00 am despite the rain and the wind. Lightning crackled through the sky, and the rain came down in sheets. It was anything but smooth sailing, yet the boat chugged through the waves.

The lightning worsened, and the wind howled. The captain gave my family the option of returning to shore, minus our deposit, but he assured us that the storm would soon pass us by. 

I can only imagine what storms on the Sea of Galilee would be like in a small fishing vessel with only sails for guidance. The geography and climate of the region make it perfect for strong storms, one of which is detailed in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The disciples were terrified, as the large waves broke over the boat, threatening to sink it. Yet Jesus slept through the event until the disciples woke him with an accusation: “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)

There are times that I have asked God to calm the storms of my life, but some go on for far longer than I would like. Just like the disciples, I have questioned the reason and the purpose for the trials I faced, to the point of wondering if God even cared at all. But it has always been, at my lowest moments, that reminders come to light – through Scripture, through kindness from others, through insight from both the common and the beautiful – that God has never left my side. And then I am strengthened and encouraged: I have made it through other storms, and I will make it through this one too.

A perfect storm? No, rather it is a perfecting storm. We will not be destroyed, and we will see the sunlight and calm seas again one day. The waves of trials will never overtake us as long as God is our captain and our guide. Remember, He can take all things and work them for our good (Romans 8:28).

And that’s just what happened on that deep-sea fishing trip. Thank goodness for the benefit of radar and a knowledgeable captain. A gentle rain fell on us while we proceeded to catch our limit of red snapper within an hour, and the skies cleared as we started fishing for other bounty. I hauled in an amberjack after a fierce fight that left my arms sore for days. The others in our party caught sharks, a crevalle jack, a cobia, and a flounder.

It was a fishing trip for the ages, and one that I’ll remember as long as I live.

Or we could have traded all that to head back to shore and recoup our deposit.

So stay in the fight, folks. Sail through to the other side. The storms do not last forever. Often the greatest blessings come just on the other side of the trouble.

Your Captain will be with you, watching the radar. 

And He might even put you on some good fish.