Calming the Storm

We often use the expression "when it rains it pours" to refer to bad news. The week of August 8, 2010 was one of those weeks. On Monday I got the news that my nephew had committed suicide, and on Wednesday I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two major storms in my life.
Now let's back up about a week. I have been teaching an English Bible class at a Giraffe School. I always prayed and asked God what He wanted me to teach the next week. I was looking at the story of the Good Samaritan, but God redirected me to the story of Jesus calming the storm. This was before I knew anything about my nephew or the breast cancer. But it was no surprise to God. He knows all things even before they happen. So that week I taught this story to the students. I told the students that we sometimes have storms (or bad things) happen in our lives, but Jesus is more powerful than those storms and He can calm them just like he did the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus has calmed my heart and given me peace and strength during this time. I taught the students a Bible verse from Isaiah 43:5. "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." God used this lesson to remind me that He is in control, He is always with me, and He is more powerful than any storm we may have in our lives.
Please pray for my sister and her family and pray for me as we return to the states for surgery and treatment.