This past weekend was a double shot of encouragement for many Americans. The first shot, obviously, was produced by the arrival of the long Labor day weekend—one final glimpse of summer and an extra day off with which to enjoy it. The second shot came from the kickoff of the college football season. After a summer of scandal and investigations in the sport, players were on the field again. There were huge games (Oregon-LSU), big upsets (South Florida over Notre Dame), and all the pageantry normally surrounding the college game. But there was also something else—stormy weather. Games throughout the Midwest on Saturday, and reaching into West Virginia on Sunday, were disrupted, delayed, and even suspended by violent storms filled with lightning. Obviously, no one could do anything but clear the stadiums and hope the storms would go away. Many games of this opening weekend were at the mercy of the stormy weather.

When our lives are disrupted by stormy events (sometimes metaphorical, sometimes actual), however, the follower of Christ has a huge resource at his or her disposal—the God who can directly deal with the storms that are greater than our own abilities. Our God is greater than all, and His power to sustain, encourage, strengthen, and carry us through the stormy seasons of life is without compare. Job said of Him:

He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. (Job 26:12)

The psalmist adds to this by saying:

He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. (Psalm 107:29)

The Creator is more than capable of handling the storms of our lives—even as Jesus calmed the stormy Galilee to rescue His terrified disciples. It is an encouragement to know that, in life’s seasons of stormy weather, the Master can speak into our lives with His wonderful comfort, “Peace, be still.” Look to Him in your seasons of storm.

Bill Crowder, Sport Spectrum Chaplain