What was to be our 25^thanniversary trip turned into a 26^thanniversary trip…with our girls. A couple of months before we were to head out in 2004, I was diagnosed with cancer. As you guessed, the doctor said I would not be up for the trip once I started chemo…even though I tried to convince him otherwise…of course, he was right. So, in 2005, our family was excited and ready to go on a Caribbean cruise. Our passports were in place, swimsuits & sunscreen packed. We were ready to go have some fun! We were tired of doctor appointments, surgery, meds, and general “cancer crud”. We had a lot to celebrate! Now just to give you a full appreciation of this cruise, this was the year of Hurricane Katrina…THE YEAR that had a record-breaking hurricane season for the Atlantic. No, we didn’t get into Katrina, but when it was time for us to go, Hurricane Dennis had just slammed a couple of the ports of call we were to see. We knew that it was possible for other hurricanes to come through, but we felt LUCKY. Surely there would not be another one right after Dennis. That seemed logical to us…logic does not mean wise or correct. Big mistake…big mistake. (By the way, I know that is not a cruise ship picture, but it looks like the waves that hit our boat….I think that would be bad advertising….thinking out loud.)

I’m not one to complain. I’m not one that usually gets sick on a cruise ship. BUT friends, soon after we were sailing out, Hurricane Emily came to visit! Yes, yes, we were…we were on the  Caribbean Sea, on a cruise ship, when Emily debuted her ugly head. Now in all fairness, our ship’s captain did an excellent job of keeping us away from the main part of the storm. But the ocean was still churning from Dennis when we started and now Emily decided to add her wave action to the mix. Each one in our family took Bonine for motion sickness. It was not enough. We would start to feel better, head out of our cabin, and just like that, we would feel rough again, go lay down until our stomach stopped churning, and then attempt to go out again. One night, waters seemed to be smoothing out, so we managed to go to dinner and go to the floor show.  It was a group that imitated The Beatles! They were great! The entire auditorium was rocking, and then…we were REALLY rocking…literally back and forth. The band was trying to keep from falling down. As the boat rocked one way, the band members started staggering that direction holding tight to their instruments, trying to keep their footing, and still perform. And as you figured out by now, when the boat rocked the other direction, their feet started moving that way too…a bit clumsy looking…but hey, they didn’t fall! The waves that night were big! I mean really big!

Let’s switch gears a minute and read Mark 4:35-40 (The Message).  Late that day he said to them, “let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet, Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and seas at his beck and call!”

That’s the question. The question every one of us has to answer…WHO IS THIS ANYWAY? Our life is a lot like that cruise ship we were on in 2005. Hurricanes come at us and toss us around. Sometimes we still try to put on a show that we are ok, but we stumble. We lose our footing, maybe even fall. We think we can go out in the world again on our own, but then the next waves come, and we aren’t able to go forward. We have to retreat. Return back to the beginning and start over again.

I want to take a little of your time and look at the question, WHO IS THIS ANYWAY? Without an answer to who our God is, who Jesus is, we will always be tossed around in life storms. Although we face many storms in life, there are some common storms that most of us face. Let’s look at them and see who God is when we are in the midst of those storms. Knowing Him helps us navigate our storm. Just like a cruise ship has an Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS) to navigate the stormy seas, our God will navigate us through the stormy seas of our life.  The names of God act as our ECDIS. Just like cruise ships have sensors that give detailed insight to the direction of the ship, the names of God give us insight to who God is and how He can help us in our daily walk.

THE STORM OF FEAR

When was the last time that the Storm of Fear, the “what ifs” storm, took over your life? You know the “what if” that takes over you when you hear your spouse has a serious illness? The “what if” when you lose your job? The “what if” when your child takes a walk down the wrong path of life? The “what if” when your marriage is falling apart? That is the time of your life that you need God to give you courage to face your storm.  The first two names of God are found in 2 Samuel 22:33 & 47: God of My Strength (ELHEI MA’UZZI) and God, My Rock (EL SALI). David called God by those names after God delivered him from Saul. By calling on those names of God, David knew that God would help him stand strong in the storm. Calling on these names during the waves of fear will remind you who is with you and what He does for you.

THE STORM OF BEING ALONE

In my limited research of this subject, I found that anywhere from 33% to 46% of people fear being alone.  In today’s world of technology, it is something that blows my mind with all of the “social interactions” that we have. With that said, this is a real storm of life, and quite honestly, it is one that can wash over me and cause me to lose my footing. It can send me back “to my room” until I feel that the waves are down and it’s smooth sailing. In Genesis 16, Hagar faced the storm of being alone. Hagar was pregnant, and Sarai mistreated her. She fled her home, her job, and the father of her child. She was pregnant, alone, and fearful. While she was near a spring in the desert, the LORD found her. In Genesis 16:13, Hagar calls on God that Sees Me (EL RAI).  We have times like that today. By Hagar understanding that God saw her and the situation she was in, she gained courage and realized she was not alone during a dark time of her life.

THE STORM OF ILLNESS

Many have had this storm hit them head on, unexpected. When it does, nothing can prepare you for the waves that rock your world. There was a time when the Israelites were struggling and without water. You can read this story in Exodus 15:22-27. It took place right after they crossed the Red Sea.  God tells them in verse 26, that if they will follow Him, he will not bring the diseases on them as He did the Egyptians. The end of the verse says, “for I am the LORD, who heals you.”, JEHOVAH ROPHE. Personally, this is a name that has stuck with me after my cancer battle 15 years ago. When I am asked to pray for someone that needs healing, I call on JEHOVAH ROPHE for healing. Using the names of God when I pray help me to focus on all of the many blessings He gives, all of His character traits, and just how incredibly big HE is. Knowing this, the waves become smaller that are crashing around me.

THE STORM OF BATTLE

Most of us have not gone to war in a foreign country. (For those that have, thank you for your service. Your very sacrifice allows me to write freely about my Father.) BUT most of us have done battle at some time in our life.  These storms can knock you down, cause you extreme pain, and leave deep scars. Have you been walking along with a friend and a squall storm hits and knocks you over? Have you been at work when a tidal wave hit? God ‘s names can help you walk through this storm and keep your footing. There are two names I want to give you for the storm of battle. Deuteronomy 33:29, The Lord Our Sword, JEHOVAH CHEREB, and The Lord My Shield, JEHOVAH MAGEN.Chapter 33 was written at the end of Moses life. This verse is at the end of a blessing that he gives to the Israelites. Moses is describing what God did to defeat Israel’s enemies. If God did it for those, He loved in Moses time, wouldn’t He do battle for you now? Of course, He will, and He does. That is who our God is.

It is not IF a storm rocks our ship, but WHEN a storm will rock it. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (THE MESSAGE)  We know in Him, we have victory. Take heart. Make a decision to know who this is that has the wind and seas at His beck and call, your storms at His beck and call. Call on His name during your storm.

Blessings – Cherie

If you want more information on names of God, click here. It is a long list of the names of God, their meanings, scriptures where they are found, and pronunciations. This information is by Tony Evans. It was a good reference for me.