By Judd Matsunaga, Esq.
Let’s say you have a bucket of water and a small rock. Now, if you toss the rock into the water, it will sink right to the bottom. However, if you take a cork and toss it into the water, it floats effortlessly and on the surface. The purpose of this Rafu ShimpoChristmas article is to explain how the Christmas message keeps you from sinking straight to the bottom when the storms of life throw you into the water.
To be sure, life is not going to be “smooth sailing” every day. Storms are unavoidable. If someone tells you their life is always “sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,” they’re not being truthful. There will be storms coming, winds howling, and waves crashing in all of our lives. Storms will come in many forms, e.g., financial struggles, health challenges, broken relationships, loss or uncertainty. Quite often, they feel overwhelming.
Nobody likes going through the storms of life. Yet, they often serve a greater purpose. Roman philosopher Seneca (died AD 65) wrote in an essay called “On Providence,” “Why, then, do you wonder that good men are shaken in order that they may grow strong? No tree becomes rooted and sturdy unless many a wind assails it. For by its very tossing, it tightens its grip and plants its roots more securely — the fragile trees are those that have grown in a sunny valley.”
In other words, the storms, i.e., our struggles and suffering, are essential for your personal growth. They provide an opportunity to strengthen your roots and build resilience. Without storms in your life, it can be easy to rely on your own strength, to feel secure in your own plans, and to lose sight of your need for help, i.e., “the fragile trees are those that have grown in a sunny valley.” So when a treacherous storm hits, and you’re relying solely on your own strength and understanding, fear can quickly take over, leaving you vulnerable to being uprooted.
Fear is a natural response to danger. But when fear takes hold, it grips your heart, clouds your mind, and paralyzes your actions. It whispers doubts and discouragement, convincing you to give up or stay in a place of safety. But fear is also a liar. It makes you believe that the waves are too high, the winds are too strong, and that there’s no way out. We start to say “I can’t do this,” or “I’m not strong enough,” and guess what — you’re right. You can’t do it on your own.
If fear is tormenting you, the Christmas message brings comfort and great joy. Christmas is about the birth of God’s son – Jesus. Another name for Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” His birth and life bring a message of good news for us all because it means we are never alone. It doesn’t matter how hard or hopeless our situation may appear to be, God is there for us. And with God by our side, no challenge is insurmountable, i.e., “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
One of the most famous stories from the Bible that illustrates this profound truth is Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). If you’re not familiar with it, here’s the background. There’s a large, freshwater lake in northern Israel called the Sea of Galilee, it’s the source of the River Jordan. After Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish, He sent His disciples across the lake on a boat while He went up into the hills by Himself to pray.
In the middle of the night, the disciples were still in the middle of the lake fighting a big storm, i.e., tossed and battered by the waves and the wind was against them. About 3 o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”
Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the effects of the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
You might say, “Nice story, Jesus and Peter walking on water. But what does that have to do with me?” This story illustrates a powerful lesson on how to float like a cork during life’s storms. It’s a reminder that focus determines outcomes. Where your focus goes, your energy flows. That’s the power of faith. Faith connects you to the supernatural. It lifts you above circumstances that should sink you. It enables you to do what fear tells you is impossible.
When Peter stepped out of that boat, he was walking on water because his eyes were locked on Jesus. He did the impossible. But, the moment he shifted his focus to the waves, fear crept in and he began to sink. Isn’t that just like us? When life gets tough, when the bills pile up, a medical diagnosis shakes your faith, relationships fall apart, we often shift our focus to the storm. The storm becomes all consuming, overwhelming us with fear and doubt, stealing your faith and down you go.
No matter how fierce or long-lasting the storm feels, it’s vital to remember that storms are?always temporary. Storms are transient by nature. They come, they disrupt, and they eventually pass. What remains constant is the power of God, which stands unshaken, eternal and unchanging no matter the circumstances. His power is not diminished by the intensity of the storm, nor is it dependent on how long the storm lasts. His power endures beyond the fiercest winds and highest waves, and it is in that truth that hope is found.
When you’re in the middle of the storm, it can be hard to remember that it’s temporary. When the winds are howling and the waves are crashing, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that storms have an expiration date. They can feel as if they’ll last forever, pressing in on all sides, leaving no room for peace or clarity. But storms are not designed to stay. They are designed to pass. Every storm has a beginning and an end.
This truth is evident in the natural world storm clouds roll in but they eventually clear. Rain may pour for days, but the sun always breaks through. Even the most powerful hurricanes reach a point where their energy dissipates and they fade away. Life storms follow the same pattern. They may come suddenly and disrupt your plans, but they are temporary disruptions in the grander scheme of God’s eternal plan for your life.
So let’s say you are in the midst of a storm. You can fix your eyes on the raging storm, allowing it to dictate your thoughts and emotions. Or, you can lock your gaze on Jesus, letting your faith in His power keep you afloat. Every step Peter took on the water was a step of faith, a conscious decision to trust in Jesus rather than the circumstances. Faith requires focus. It’s not a one-time decision, it’s a continual choice. Faith must be nurtured. It’s something that grows through experience as we spend time with God.
You say, “But how do I lock my gaze on Jesus when I can’t physically see Him?” Great question! To keep your eyes on Jesus is: (1) To live with a constant awareness of His presence; and (2) Have faith in His promises. It means choosing faith over fear, trust over doubt, and hope over despair. It means letting His promises guide your thoughts, shape your perspective, and anchor your focus no matter how difficult life’s storms may seem.
“What promises?” you might ask. There are between 3,573 and 8,810 promises in the Bible. For any storm you might be going through, e.g., fear, financial struggles, health challenges, etc., there’s a promise from God to help you overcome it. Most likely, there’s dozens of promises for any given situation. All you need is one, then you focus on it, i.e., keep your eyes on Jesus. You take each step going forward, not in your own strength, but in His.
And as you do, fear loses its grip and the chaos around you loses its power to control you. You will find that His grace is enough, His power is sufficient, and His faithfulness never fails. For example, if you’re scheduled for a major surgery and you can’t help but focus on the treacherous storm and crashing waves, focus on Jesus’ promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
If it’s a financial storm, you focus one of the many verses that God promises to provide what we need. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) If you’re getting sued and fear you might lose everything, focus on His word, “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14) If you are worried about dying, lock your focus on Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (John 11:25)
Whatever storm you might face, God’s word provides the hope, strength and focus you need to overcome it. You might say, “It sounds like the more of God’s promises you know, the more protection you’ll have from the different kinds of storms.” That’s right! That’s why you’re supposed to go to church. Most contemporary Christian churches also begin with a worship time before the announcements and the message. Worship is specifically intended to help you shift your focus away from your troubles and cares and onto Jesus.
In conclusion, faith isn’t something that comes naturally, it must be nurtured and cultivated. The Bible says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). Faith grows through experience, through stepping out, trusting and seeing God’s faithfulness time and time again. Storms, as difficult as they are, provide opportunities for your faith to grow. They push you beyond your comfort zone, forcing you to rely on God in ways you never had before.
Storms will stretch your faith, deepen your trust, and strengthen your resolve. Each storm you face becomes a testimony of God’s faithfulness, a reminder that He is with you and for you no matter how fierce the winds, or how high the waves. In the end the storms will pass, the winds will die down, and the waves will settle. But what will remain is the one who was with you all along, the one who carried you through, the one who never let go.
And as you stand on the other side of the storm you will see how He worked all things for your good, how He strengthened your faith and how He revealed His glory in ways you never expected. The storms may come but they are not the end of the story. Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith and in Him you have a hope that cannot be shaken.
So let the storms come, let the winds howl and the waves crash. You have no reason to fear because your eyes are fixed on Jesus. You are standing on the solid rock of His love, His power and His promises. And with Jesus you can face anything. Let the storm rage, but let your faith remain steadfast. Keep your eyes on Jesus and He will see you safely through. Wishing you peace, joy and hope this season. Merry Christmas!!!
Judd Matsunaga, Esq., is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Matsunaga & Associates, specializing in estate/Medi-Cal planning, probate, personal injury and real estate law. With offices in Torrance, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena and Fountain Valley, he can be reached at (800) 411-0546. Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those ofThe Rafu Shimpo.