Asleep in the Storm

How many of you have said, "I wish I could just go to sleep and when I wake up everything would be fine."?

Several years ago, Tom and I were at Whiteswan Provincial Park with our daughter Bethany and our niece Shelby. It was the first time we had taken Shelby on a camping trip with us. Bethany’s sister had just got married and her brother moved out, so it was just the three of us. It’s not as much fun on vacation when you’re the only kid so we dragged Shelby along for Beth.

Summer in the Kootenays is amazing. The sun almost always shines. In our favourite camping spot, the water is crystal clear and offers glorious refreshment during a hot day. Great for canoeing or lazily sunning on your favourite flotation device. The trees are massive, perfect for hanging our hammock and resting in their shade. Whiteswan is surrounded with snow-capped mountains and is one of the most serene places I know. No cell service. No Wi-Fi. No anything except peace and quiet and a few out houses. A huge perk is the open-air natural hot springs just a 15-minute drive away.

On the downside, when you’re surrounded by mountains you cannot see the storm clouds gathering. They arrive with no warning. The weather can change in a heartbeat.

This particular day, after being in the lake all day, we drove out to the hot springs for an evening warm-up. We came back for a relaxing sit by the fire complete with coffee, hot chocolate and s’mores. We finally climbed into our sleeping bags ready for a good night’s sleep. The girls in their tent, Tom and I in ours. It was a great day.

When we went to bed all was calm and peaceful. In the middle of the night mother nature decided to wreak a bit of havoc. First there was the rumble echoing through the valley. Then flashes of lightning. The wind began to pick up. And pick up some more. And pick up some more. The lightening increased in intensity to the point where the girls said they could easily see each other as though it were daylight. The thunder crashed like a train derailing.

Tom likes a bit of rain and a gentle thunderstorm at night when camping but this was a storm like none other. He lay awake listening for the tell-tale sound of wood cracking prior to the felling of a tree. I told you, the trees at Whiteswan are enormous. What should he do? Should he wake me up and run from this storm? Should we just lay their and hope the trees finish us off and we will all be with Jesus in the blink of an eye? He opted to ride it out in the tent, calling to the girls to make sure they were okay.

If the girls had not  been in their tent it would have blown into the lake. They put their suitcases up against the side of the tent to keep it from lifting off the ground. At times the tent was laid down flat on top of them, the wind was that fierce.

In the morning I woke up refreshed and ready to meet the day. I had slept soundly through the entire ordeal. I was spared the trauma of the storm, but I have no story, no testimony of God keeping his hand on me in the midst of terrifying circumstances. Would the others ever want to go through that experience again? I highly doubt it. But can they say, "Thank you Jesus for protecting us and being in the storm with us."? Can they relate to others who also have experienced vicious thunderstorms? Definitely! 

I had absolutely no idea how terrified they had all been while the storm raged through the campsite. Or how God had displayed his awesome protection over me and the others. I felt a little left out as they recounted their experience. They bonded in their shared experience. To this day they remember every detail and the emotions evoked in them while they sat trapped in circumstances beyond their control.

I have no story. No testimony. No fear and angst. No proof of God’s faithfulness in that storm.

Trust is developed when it is needed. If we don’t need God, we won’t feel the need to trust him. If he simply lifted us out of and above every storm of life how would we ever know his comfort and provision? How would our faith have a chance to grow?

Jesus’ disciples found themselves in a similar storm, only they were on the water when it hit. Jesus too was asleep in the storm.

“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?”” (Mark 4:35–41, NLT)

I have been awake for many other storms, storms of a different nature, storms during which I wish I could just go to sleep and wake up in the morning to find out the whole thing was just a dream. Storms when I too have cried out to God, “Don’t you even care that I’m ‘dying’ here?!” God, in his mercy, reaches out his loving hand and steadies me. He walks beside me every step of the way. And at times he gently rebukes me asking, “Where is your faith, girl?”

I’m still in a bit of a storm but gradually the wind and the waves are abating. Though many issues have been beautifully resolved there remain several ongoing pressures and a few ‘unknowns’, but I am clinging to and enjoying the Presence of the Known. And, I have this peace that defies all understanding. I KNOW God is good! I KNOW God is faithful because I have been fully awake in many a storm and have seen and experienced his sweet presence with me! ❤

I am so grateful to be fully awake in the storm.