Warfare

INTRODUCTION By Presiding Elder, Rev. Willa Estell Matthew 8:23-27 says, “Now when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” The weather, as we know, can be truly unpredictable. We don't know from one day to the next what to expect. As a matter of fact in the same day, it can go from beautiful blue skies and sunshine to ominous gray clouds. However, this is true not only of the weather, but of life generally speaking. I am sure that many of us can attest to the fact that we have found ourselves in various storms. The nation today is in an economic and political storm. Strong winds are blowing from the north, south, east, and the west and there is a sense of unrest and fear among us. Our children are experiencing emotional and psychological storms causing some to take their own lives at 12 and 13 years of age. Storms perpetuated by bullies who really don't possess a sense of their own self-worth and are trying to find it by belittling and causing harm to others. There are physical storms that come in the form of ill-health. Life is full of storms. Someone has said that we are all in a storm, coming out of a storm, or getting ready to go into a storm. Therefore, no matter what your position in life, you are not exempt from storms. When I lived with my grandparents in Alabama, whenever the skies would begin to darken on the horizon, whenever the thunder would begin to roar, causing the rain to fall and lightning to flash, my grandmother would have everybody ( and I mean everybody), sit down and be still for she said that “ God was talking.” Could it be that she, with very little education, was right? When the storms of life come upon us, could God be talking? Could it be that God is speaking to us as God spoke to the disciples, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Could it be that God is trying to tell us something? Could it be that we are putting our hope and trust in created things and people with limited power and resources, just like us, and not the Creator Himself? I believe that the God who spoke to elements, the wind and sea, and they obeyed is speaking to us today. “If My people who are called by My name would humble themselves and pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).” There is only one who can speak to the storms of life and the storms are stilled at the sound of His voice. It is God, self-revealed in Jesus Christ! Rev. Willa Estell is the Pastor of St. Paul A. M. E. Zion Church in Maryville, Tennessee.