Don't waste your hurricane!

I can currently hear Sandy whipping against the walls of my house. Already the power has flickered a number of times, and I won't be surprised if we lose power any moment.

While Jesus and His disciples didn't have to worry about power outages, they sure knew what it was like to be in the middle of a fierce storm:

On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

While it's entirely possible that Jesus will speak into this storm to calm it in an instant, history shows us that most of the time He simply has us ride out the storms. Thankfully, like the storm Mark records, Jesus is with us now as well. He's resting just as easily as He was then, calling us to do the same by faith.

With that in mind, don't waste your hurricane! Even if the power goes out, here are a few practical ideas for how you can respond in faith even in your fundraising:

• Write some thank yous to your donor team. For many years thank-yous were written by candlelight. I hear it's still possible.
• Spend time in Scripture. If you find it hard to read by candlelight, use this time right now to charge up your phone or back-lit Nook to spend some time with Jesus in His Word.
• Pray: James 4:2 says, "You do not have, because you do not ask." Have you asked God for help in your fundraising recently? (To my shame, that's often my second or third resort after exhausting my own efforts!) Pray boldly. Pray specifically. Pray for your donors, your remaining need and your sanctification.
• Be still: At the risk of being overly metaphorical, fundraising tends to create storms within our hearts as well. Jesus's words are just as powerful: Peace! Be still! Consider the power of the storm outside, and consider that Jesus calmed it with but a word. Consider, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" Consider that He did indeed care that we were perishing, and He chose to perish in our stead. Be still, and know that He alone is God. (Psalm 46:10)

If it takes a hurricane for me to slow down, recognized my dependency and trust Jesus, let's take full advantage of it. 

Don't waste your hurricane!