Eighteen sets of eyes stared up at me, wide in anticipation. We had just boarded our imaginary boat on the last day of Vacation Bible School. I cut the lights, as a storm began to rock our story time. The winds blew. Whoosh! The clouds rolled in. Thunder clapped and lightning flashed. The children swayed and rocked as waves of pretend water rocked our ship. (I sprayed them with a little bit of real water just to help the memory stick.)
Paul and his friends struggled aboard a boat as they set out on a missionary journey. We talked of the wind, the waves, the darkness, the stinky fish smells and sea-sickness. (The boys loved to imagine that sea-sickness.) We spoke of the tiredness and the chores. When the storm did not let up, we spoke of the fears they must have been feeling. How they longed for calm waters. How they wanted their beds at home, and their mommies. How they wanted to feel safe. They were afraid.
Then God told Paul, through a dream, that He would keep them safe. God instructed Paul to tell his shipmates not to be afraid. A collective sigh of relief rang through our make-shift vessel. The end of the storm would come sooner than craft time. Surely.
Paul spoke for peace, but the storm still raged. Sea-sickness seemed to be winning. The land loomed in the distance. My boat-mates cheered. And then, the boat crashed. They revolted. No Kidding. When Paul and his crew had to swim for the land, this group of snorkelers thew a fit.
"Wait, NO!!!"
"That's not right! God said He would take care of them!"
"Um, I'm pretty sure it doesn't go like this."
"Yea! Aren't you supposed to tell the part where God calms the sea? Tell that part. Tell it. RIGHT NOW!"
But, God didn't still these waves. The boat did break down. The passengers found themselves over their heads in the salty waves. They swam for their lives. They grabbed frantically for shards of wood from the wreckage to keep themselves a float. And Paul's words echoed in their ears, "Do not be afraid."
I suspect the hearts of Paul and his crew carried as much dissonance as the little ones gave me as we tried to relive it that Friday morning. Did they wonder if God had forgotten them? Did they rack their minds for something they did to deserve this chaotic turn of events? Did they question the decision to make the adventurous journey? Shipwrecked and swimming was not what they signed on for, right? I imagine, they too, were pretty sure this was not suppose to go like this.
These people had committed their lives to being part of the miraculous story of God in our world. They had seen and heard the amazing things that He has done in the past. That one about Jesus calming the waves probably seemed pretty applicable in those moments.
And He could have done that. He could have stopped the relentless crashing of those waves. Heck, the same Holy Spirit was in them that was in Jesus. He could have let them walk on the waves. That would have been amazing! Paul and his crew, just strolling through the stormy seas, right up to the shore....He could have done that. Except, he didn't.
They were bobbing and swimming, wondering, and sputtering for breath. The sea water burned in their noses and every kick against the waves burned in their tired hamstrings. They swam to the shore, in waves that proved to strong for a boat made to withstand them.
When they all reached the beach, they had a story to tell. They ALL reached the beach, and found each other alive and well, ready to share the good news. How is that any less miraculous than if God had held the boat together, or given them smooth sailing?
Instead of calming the waves, or giving His followers feet to surf upon them, the God of all Wonders allowed his people to trust that calm quiet spirit in their hearts while they navigated the nasty waves around them. He kept His promise; they all made it to shore. He had been protecting them. He had not forgotten them. The God of all Wonders can redeem any chaotic turn of events for His Glory.
Because of that, we all have a story to tell to those around us today.
What storms are you swimming through today?
What stories of His faithfulness (bigger than your fears) can you tell?
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