My daughter and husband enjoy watching Storm Chasers. In fact, I’m sitting here with Em watching the most recent episode, via DVR, for the third time this weekend. Its a documentary style show where scientists chase tornados and film it. We’re watching the storm unfold as I type. She likes natural science a lot and tries to figure out the how’s and why’s of a tornado – its almost like a game for her.
It does bring up questions that aren’t so fun… Especially late at night. Regularly I am peppered with queries like, “Mommy, will there be a storm tonight?” or “Could a tornado hit our house?” and my favorite, “Mommy, would God let a storm hurt us?” Of course, I try to give her comforting answers, as any mom would do. But, I don’t usually have a solid answer for her – because I don’t know.
I, myself am a storm chaser. Hard to believe, but true. Often I chase hypothetical storms – typically they are storms of my own making. “What if one of my children gets sick?” “What if I get cancer?” “What if the market crashes and the country goes into a deep depression and we can’t afford basic necessities and we lose our house and have to move in with my in-laws and… and… and…” Suddenly I’ve got a real storm brewing – all of the thoughts swirling and whirling around in my brain. Even I can get sucked into an unruly game of “what if “.
When I find myself in the middle of one of these full blown storms, hypothetical or otherwise, I am reminded of a similar situation from Scripture.
Matthew 8:23-27
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
No matter what – He is in control. He has the answer. He knows the future. He holds everything in the palm of His hand. When things happen beyond my understanding, when storms brew creating towering vortexes of doubt and fear, my response can be peace. And, in the eye of that same storm, I can be sure that He loves me and He will care for me and my family. Knowing that the winds and waves obey Him is more than enough to calm my heart.
The final answer to all of my questions in the What if game is: JESUS.
amen
daily portion 
AMEN!