“WE CANNOT ALWAYS TRACE GOD’S HAND, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST GOD’S HEART.”

– CHARLES SPURGEON

Much of Australia has experienced wild weather, destructive storms, and flooding in the last few years. Many of our Companions, Members, Staff, colleagues, friends, and family have suffered the unrelenting return of multiple adverse weather conditions that have taken away homes, possessions, employment, mobility, or a myriad of other parts of their lives. It can leave us with feelings of despair or anger. In the middle of these tempests, it might lead us to question the purpose of these events or God’s presence.

Our own lives are filled with complexity. The metaphor of the storm aptly fits when moments of chaos, uncertainty, and sudden change occur in one’s life. Navigating times of difficulties in one’s life can feel like steering a seemingly uncontrollable vessel through troubled waters. The spiral of emotions can feel overwhelming.

The disciples of Jesus had similar reactions during times of distress and stress in first-century Palestine. In the Gospels of Mark (4:35-41) and Matthew (8:23-27), the disciples found themselves in the middle of a sea, on a boat, during a wild storm. Not the safest place to be! Remarkably in both accounts, Jesus is asleep as the wind swept up and the waves are crashing around the group. In times of difficulties, it can feel that Jesus is unnecessarily quiet and even absent from the suffering that we encounter. But Jesus does not remain asleep. Instead of joining in their fear and panic, he calms everything and everyone. The frenzy subsides. And he asks the question, “Why are you afraid?”

Fear is a powerful emotion. One of its primary purposes is to alert us to forms of danger or causes of harm, heightening our senses to aid our self-protection. In its extreme form, it can warp our perspectives and distort our sense of reality. The story highlights the need to question one’s fear reaction to tame and manage it. From a faith perspective, it is also an opportunity to invite God into the experiences that generate fear in order to befriend it and to deepen one’s trust in God to accompany you in the midst of the storm.

Sister Rosalie Rendu lived through many chaotic events and violent revolutions on the streets of Paris. Even when surrounded by horrific fighting and inhumane behaviour, she sought to maintain and be a refuge. Her response was to care for the sick and dying on all sides of the conflict, choosing to react with generosity and care in the face of fear and despair.

It is important to remember that we can be the hands of Christ to others in times of difficulty. Our Vincentian tradition is grounded in the reality of recognising Jesus in one another, especially those experiencing poverty. We do this in loving service to anyone in need. In the storms of other people’s lives, we can be the ones who accompany those who are in the middle of fear and difficulty.

It is easy to only see the clouds when the skies are dark. Those skies will pass.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What is your response in times of fear or difficulty?
• How do you recognise God during the storms of your life?

From: Firewood for the soul, vol. 2, A Reflexion Book for the Whole Vincentian Family
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland, Australia.
Text by: Samantha Hill and James Hodge.