Where is God?

 I read a devotion recently and at one piont the author said, loosely translated, "we see God in the good times, but wonder where He is in the storm." (Girlfriends In God click to read full devotion)

My mind started working and went to this scripture:

📖 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

 It struck me....

He is already there...ahead of you in the storm.

The disciples thought they were alone...that Jesus had left them bouncing around on waves, buffeted by wind. And they didn't expect Him to show up, to the point they didn't even recognize Him.

Why is it when we are in the middle of the storm we pray to Him, but then are too consumed by our circumstances to recognize Him in the middle of it....working in it...waiting there to walk with you, comfort you, give you a new perspective...draw you closer to Him. All to create a stronger relationship with you. 

📖 “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.

Once we recognize He is there, has been there in the middle of it, we draw strength, feel we CAN do this,  feel we can "walk on water"...as long as we keep our eyes on Him.

Another lesson from that passage.  Peter was fine until his focus became the storm instead of Jesus.

First letting the storm consume us so we don't recognize Jesus and then allowing the storm to become our focus so we start to sink, to lose hope.

Keeping our gaze fixed on Him we are able to place each step forward with confidence, in faith.

📖 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12:2a

We can walk through any storm as long as our eyes are focused on Jesus....and we are letting Him take us by the hand and lead us in His direction. 

📖  I have sought your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways

and have turned my steps to your statutes. Psalm 119:58-59

So the answer to the title question ...

🎵In the Eye Of the Storm