Recently I woke around 1am to the noise of a storm outside. It sounded like something had crashed onto our outdoor glass table. There must have been a power cut as my alarm clock was flashing. The wind noise was just enough to make me feel uncomfortable. As I lay awake, another storm started to grow. This one was internal and was triggering a bunch of irrational fears. What do you do when you wake in the early hours assaulted by fear? Here’s what I’m learning…
It’s amazing how irrational fear can be, especially in the early hours of the morning! My head bounced from one irrational thought to another and my stomach started to feel like I was on a boat in a storm. Do you recognize any of these storms of fear?
- afraid my marriage would hit the rocks…
- afraid that we would be sunk by financial challenges…
- afraid of losing connection with my kids
- afraid of being alone in it all…
- afraid of sinking under the pressure…
- afraid of not measuring up to the required performance…
- afraid of not making it to the other side…
- afraid of failing this storm test…
- afraid of the holes appearing in my boat…
- fear of faith failure…
- afraid of being afraid!
Somewhere inside me I knew this was a fear storm and not real. But at that time in the early morning with the physical storm going on outside, my mind and emotions were refusing to settle.
What do you do in a fear storm?
I grabbed my mobile device put my ear buds in, careful not to wake my peacefully sleeping wife. I pushed play on my favorite worship album. It worked…. for a while…
I tried praying in my god-language under my breath. I thought through scriptures and mentally made declarations. That worked for a while as I dozed in and out of the storm.
I needed to do something more if I was to get ANY victory in this storm.
Time for something stronger
I got up and walked quietly into my living area, closing the bedroom door behind me.
I debated whether to watch a movie or read a novel to get my mind off the fear. Deep down I knew this was more than something natural. If I did the movie/novel thing I would be back here tomorrow morning doing the same thing.
I wanted this to fear storm to end… for good. I want the pressure to end. I want the gut tension to dissipate. I want to be free. I want to sleep peacefully and wake refreshed.
I want to be FREE from fear (to escape the storm)
I grabbed my journal and Bible and started to flick through the pages. I needed a NOW word from God that would give me the key to freedom.
I then remembered what I had been journaling about the DAY before.
“The Storm Test”
I had been reading Mark 4:35-41 about when Jesus went with the disciples in a boat to the other side of a lake. There was a crazy storm and the disciples were freaked out but Jesus was sleeping on a pillow. In the end they woke Jesus saying “Don’t you CARE that we are about to sink and die?”
Jesus wakes up, tells the storm to quit (Peace, be still) and then asks his team why they were afraid and had zero faith.
I had journaled a bunch of keys to stay strong in the storm. I didn’t realize I would have to be applying them so soon! And how come they weren’t working so well?
I added to yesterday’s journal…
“Storm Practice”
It’s hard to release peace into a storm when you don’t have any. It just feels like empty words in the wind.
Correct..
BUT I CAN speak His name, nature and ways which are NOT DEPENDANT on what is going on with me. He is peace. He is powerful. He is strong. He is confident. He is courageous. He is unmoving….
The more I think on who He is, the more I can feel hope and peace start to calm my fear storm. I wasn’t even declaring anything!
Then I had a lightbulb moment:
It’s not just about stopping the storm;
it’s about realizing that Jesus is completely unconcerned about it!
He is with me.
He cares about me.
He is sleeping in this.
I CAN TOO!
Something shifted inside me. I took a moment then got up, went back to bed and instantly fell back to sleep.
Sometimes it’s not about making the storm go away… escaping the pressure. It’s about finding a peace (Christ in you) in the MIDST of it that makes the storm lose its power.
What about you? Are you trying to escape some storm? What is the invitation for you in the midst of this? What is the invitation to find a NOW word from God and connect with Him WITH YOU in the midst of this?
Andy Mason comes from New Zealand and has 15+ years experience helping individuals and organizations discover and align with purpose, then develop practical steps to make dreams a reality.
He has worked for a national consultancy firm and leading financial institution as well as investing in international community development.
Andy is the director of Heaven in Business and together with his wife, Janine, leads Dream Culture – a movement catalyzing people to discover and live their dreams. Andy and Janine live with their four children in Redding, Ca. For more see www.AndyandJanine.com.
Experienced something similar recently. Woke up gripped in fear … I waited, opened my hands, waited, looked up, waited … Papa? And felt Him drape over me … back to sleep. It’s the first time I’ve ever been able to do that. Reading this is so good, I wish I always responded that way, but to remember is key (remembering the right things).
As you said, “But to remember:
It’s not just about stopping the storm; it’s about realizing that Jesus is completely unconcerned about it! He is with me. He cares about me. He is sleeping in this.
I CAN TOO!”
Thanks Andy. Good word.
Thank you Andy!!!
This sums up my 2am-4.30am morning today! I needed to read this, my business and team really needed me to read this today of all days.
Thank you!
great stuff, Andy – it really helps me, have to think about it more deeply over the weekend!
Great insight! Keep it coming!
Thanks again Andy for reposting this! When inner storms are rocking my boat I know He is on board, still that knowledge doesn’t always calm the waves crashing me into fear. However, reading this helps and also makes me aware that I’m not alone in this. Thanks for connecting.
This completely resonates! Thanks for being so real Andy and so great to be reminded that Jesus is our peace.
Really great stuff! That is true! It helps me right now! Thanks!
How timely this is, I have been fighting a fear battle this past week, and could not find a way out. I know realize, He is on my boat unafraid, sleeping and with all the power to quiet any storm. Thanks for sharing Andy
Thanks Andy! I’m sensing such a storm comming this week and your message made my heart connect with him being present through it all. Thanks
Very timely. God is teaching me that the goal isn’t always to get out of the storm but to learn to trust Him in the midst. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks Andy!
Perfect timing. My mind is being assaulted lately of fear of failure and fear of performance. fear of breaking my promises…
Your description of Jesus in the boat made it so real for me. Yes! We are not alone! It reminded me of a song I learned when I was a kid and it goes like this:
With Jesus in my vessel I can smile at the storm, smile at the storm smile at the storm.
With Jesus in my vessel I can smile at the storm; Until he takes me home….
I forgot about the rest of the verse but so appropriate. LOL!
Awesome word. Thanks
Very timely !
I just had one such storm last night. It began earlier in the evening actually. My blood pressure actually spiked out of the blue which really concerned me. I took that concern to bed and it woke me screaming about the “storm” around 3. I did what you did going out to the living room for a bit. I finally got peace through prayer, but it hasn’t really resolved. Now reading this and seeing the perfect timing of your post, not only is focus redirected but I am seeing the sovereignty of God over my external affairs and the internal battle. He knows all, He sees all, and He is more engaged than I was aware, planned for everything in advance. I can rest now. Thank you for that word. My rests is not dependent on anything external and I can practice it now.