Calm in the Storm

     Hurricane Irma is approaching. Best way we all can prepare is through prayer and needed survival essentials. Prayers go out to everyone in the path of this storm as well as prayers to those rebuilding from Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

     I was out paddle boarding in the Gulf of Mexico on Labor Day. I noticed how calm the water was. Then I realized how powerful the waters will become once the storm approaches Florida. Waves will rage and become destructive. This is similar to how we are internally. Our hearts and mind can be calm, but also capable of rage and destruction. That’s why it is so important to remain calm in the storms of our external and internal lives.

     Sports, exercise, and any other forms of competition are the best ways to test and train for potential storms we face. These bring out the warrior within us. Now, the warrior within is not the super athlete or strong person. That is part of it, but the warrior is the person who looks face-to-face with fear and doesn’t budge. Moments that make or break athletes is their ability to remain calm in the storm. Typically, individuals let their emotions get the best of them and they get out of control. Emotions can get us hyped, but then we lose our composure. Do not let your internal environment becoming raging and destructive because your external environment will turn into the same.

     Regardless if it is a physical or internal storm do not let it get the best of you. If you battle mental illnesses, physical illnesses, or daily life issues. Face your storm because they will make you stronger once you get through them. We can not control our outside circumstances, but we can control our internal circumstances using God’s Word and Prayer. We need faith to fuel us through the fear. Jesus tells us to have faith. 

Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26

     This is why we become afraid because the fears of the storm become greater than our faith. Build up your faith and know that Jesus is there to help you through the storm. Also, train yourself physically to face minor storms through fitness or competition. Once real storms hit you'll be prepared and fueled through faith to overcome them. We have no reason to be afraid in the midst of fear. Fight fear with Faith and remain calm when your storms come.

• Fight Fear with Faith
• Remain Calm in the Storm