Most people think they're a little crazy-that unusual fraternity of foul-weather friends called "storm chasers."

Storm chasers are drawn to killer-category storms like tornadoes and hurricanes. When the word spreads that a "big one" is brewing, they go photograph, measure, track, and analyze it. Lives have been saved because of their dangerous work.

But there's one thing storm chasers can't do-they can't control the storm. Real storm chasers don't drive right into the middle of an F-5 tornado to deploy their instruments. They keep a respectful distance-all storm chasers, that is, except one.

Regular storm chasers observe the storm, He occupies it. Others work outside the storm, He works inside it. Others protect those who might be hit by it, He protects those who've already been hit. Other storm chasers are helpless in the face of it, but storms are helpless in the face of this Storm Chaser.

He is a specialist when it comes to the storms in our lives. There's only one way to survive the storms of life: Look for the presence of the Storm Chaser, Jesus Christ, in the midst of the storm. Whether He still's the storm or escort's you safely through it, there's no safer place than in a storm when the Storm Chaser is there with you.

A careless creature on the African plain will become a meal. And the same with us if we're not careful. While our adversary, the devil, sometimes roars like a lion (I Peter 5:8), at other times he approaches unseen. Spiritually, we don't have delicate "weather" instruments telling us when trouble's coming. It's easy to be deceived into complacency.

Caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw the disciples' predicament from miles away in the darkness of night. He was alone on a mountainside praying. The disciples were in a fierce storm on the lake-yet He saw them (Mark 6:47-48). There's no distance or darkness which keeps the Storm Chaser from seeing the storms which approach us.

When He saw the disciples struggling against the wind, He came and walked across the water to join them in the boat, "and immediately the boat was at the land" (John 6:21). Our Storm Chaser will never forsake us in the middle of a storm (Hebrews 13:5).

But Jesus didn't always deal with the disciples so neatly. Remember the time He fell asleep in the stern of the boat? Suddenly a violent storm arose. Getting anxious and probably a little angry as the boat was beginning to fill with water, the disciples woke Him up. Jesus was with them but wasn't doing anything to save them. Why?

They had to learn to face the future with faith in Him, so "He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful?...[and] have no faith?'" (Mark 4:40). That's what Jesus wants for us-Faith! For "without faith it is impossible to please [God]" (Hebrews 11:6).

In one "storm miracle," the disciples reached their destination immediately; in the other, after a period of testing, Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves "and there was a great calm" (Matthew 8:26). In either case, there was a calm after the storm: Storms do come to an end.

Jesus isn't far from our storms. He will handle our storms in different ways at different times. Our greatest need is not for the storm to end but to have faith in Him while it's raging. Storms are a normal part of life. The wise disciple of Jesus prepares for them. Our task is to discover His presence in the midst of every storm we face.

If you have never met Jesus Christ, cry out for Him and He will hear you and come to you. If you already know Him, know that He is with you now. In the center of the storm, His peace is clearly seen. Take His hand and ride out the storm with Him. Remember-the storm will end, but you must let Him decide how and when.

This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's Devotional Magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.

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