If you have been reading the news lately, you will know we are living in stormy times. We read of a broken humanity and fragile lives. And deep down we recognise that there is something spiritual at work. It is natural for humans like ourselves to wish and talk about a yearning for “perfect peace”. And as humans, we all struggle with a broken world that’s full of storms.
The bad news is things are not going to get better. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus had foretold of the broken world and the intense spiritual warfare that’s going to escalate as we near the End Times. Yet as Christians, we have a hope and this hope is an anchor for our souls. It is amidst such stormy times that we begin to grasp what it means to be caught in God’s “perfect storm”.
Earlier this month, Pr Kalarani Subramaniam shared a sermon on this very theme – a message that struck me as timely and deeply needed, not only as an encouragement for the Malaysian Church, but also as a word that reaches beyond it.
The Terrifying Power of Storms
Storms – whether literal or in life – can be frightening. Pr Kala has experienced such literal storms herself where she saw their terrifying power. “I remember my time in Baguio City, Philippines, when a typhoon swept through. I had no experience of facing anything like it. I still remember hiding under the bed, praying hard that it wouldn’t destroy us. Later, in Cambodia, I faced another storm – so fierce I thought it would be the end of my life.”
Storms shake us. They bring fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. But the truth is that no one is exempt. At some point, all of us will face storms – whether they’re small disruptions or life-changing events. And whether they are literal or metaphorical, they can be equally devastating.
Two Sides of a Storm
Yet despite their terrifying force, storms have a purpose. We often focus only on the negative side of storms: destruction, loss of life, damaged property, and economic setbacks. And indeed, storms can be devastating. But nature also shows us that storms can serve a purpose.
Storms refresh ecosystems. They clear out what is dead and make space for new growth. Even lightning, as dangerous as it is, helps convert nitrogen into a form plants can use. Storms break heat waves, cool rivers, and refill reservoirs that we depend on.
Through nature, God shows us the other side of storms. This brings into perspective the storms in our lives. If storms in nature have a purpose, might the same be true in our lives? What if the personal storms we face – our trials, crises, and setbacks – are part of God’s way of refreshing and shaping us? How do we find this “perfect storm”?
The Chaos: Storms Are Part of Life
In Mark 4:35–41, the disciples faced a storm. After a long day of ministry, Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other side.” They got into the boat, but soon a furious storm rose up. Waves crashed over the sides until the boat was nearly swamped.
Life is like that. We all go through storms, which come in many forms – financial pressure, broken relationships, health struggles, grief, or sudden disappointments. And no one is immune.
The Bible does not hide the realities of life from us. Psalm 34:19 reminds us: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Even those who love and serve God face storms. Jesus said the same in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In this passage from Mark 4 there is something profound to be grasped. The disciples did not encounter the storm because they disobeyed. They were in it precisely because they obeyed. Jesus had told them to cross the sea, knowing full well a storm was ahead. That’s something we need to remember. Storms are not always punishments. They are not always the result of mistakes. Sometimes they happen because God is leading us through them – so that in the storm, we see His power more clearly and our faith grows deeper.
The Presence: Jesus Is in the Storm
While the storm raged, Mark tells us Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. The disciples panicked: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” That is exactly how we feel at times. When we’re overwhelmed, we cry out like the disciples: “Lord, don’t you care?” We pray, serve, and stay faithful, yet in trouble it can feel like God is distant.
But Jesus was there. He may have been silent and He may have been asleep through the storm but He was not absent. He was calm. When the disciples woke Him, He just stood up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves: “Peace, be still.” And the storm stopped and the sea grew calm. The storm that was raging a moment before instantly became a mere memory.
This episode showed the disciples that His presence is enough. It is a message that is still relevant for us today. Sometimes our storms aren’t removed right away, but He reminds us Who is with us in it. This lesson is vital because it changes everything. In the midst of the chaos around us, Jesus Christ’s presence is with us and that presence transforms everything.
The Purpose: Storms Build Faith
After calming the storm, Jesus asked His disciples: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples were experienced fishermen. They knew how to handle rough waters. Yet the storm still overwhelmed them. Like them, we often let fear take over because we focus on the waves instead of the One who commands them. But storms have a way of teaching us faith like nothing else can. In calm seasons, faith feels easy. In storms, faith becomes real.
James 1:2–3 says it clearly: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” This is the secret to finding how and why a storm can be called “perfect.” Not because the storm is pleasant, but because of what it produces.
Real Stories of Faith
In her sermon, Pr Kala shared that she has seen many examples of people who faced unimaginable storms and still come out with deeper faith. There was a Tamil brother in the church who lost both parents in consecutive years and later passed away himself. Despite the pain, he stayed faithful to God until the end.
Another sister lost her son and later suffered a serious accident that left her with metal rods in her leg. Yet she still goes on mission trips, sharing the gospel wherever she can. She did not see her storms as curses but as opportunities to glorify God.
There was also a pastor who nearly wasn’t born at all – his mother was told by doctors that German measles would harm her baby and she was advised to abort. She chose instead to trust God. That child grew up facing rejection, health issues, and many challenges. But today, he ministers powerfully, praying for healing and deliverance. At the start, his life had looked like one long storm. But just like how Jesus calmed the storms, through perseverance and faith, God turned it into a testimony.
Don’t Despise the Storm
Pr Kala exhorts and encourages us not to despise the storms. Storms are not signs of God’s abandonment. In fact, they may be the very moments where His presence and power become most visible. The Bible is full of God’s assurances that He will not leave us. In Hebrews 13:5, God promises: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” In Psalm 23:4 the psalmist declares with complete confidence: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Storms shake us. They test us. But they do not define us – and they will not destroy us, because Jesus is with us. In the midst of a raging storm, it is easy to fix our eyes on the towering waves. Yet at the very center stands the Savior, the One who declares, “Peace, be still,” and who has the power to carry us through whatever the storm may bring.
The Perfect Storm
A storm is “perfect” not because it’s easy, but because of what God does through it. In the storm, we learn that Jesus is greater than our fears. In the storm, we experience His presence in a deeper way. In the storm, our faith is tested and made stronger.
Therefore, don’t despise the storm. Do not fear it. Place your faith in God and see it as a perfect storm; one God can use to draw you closer, strengthen your faith, and turn your story into a testimony of His glory. Storms never have the final word. Jesus does.
The writer wishes to thank Pr. Kalarani for her generosity and kind assistance in reviewing this article. May its message be a blessing and encouragement to all our readers, especially those facing difficult times.
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