South Dakota received various kinds of severe weather yesterday. The extreme weather ranged from a tornado that damaged a small town on the eastern side of the state to more than a foot of snow covering the Black Hills to the west.

You never know what kind of storm nature might bring your way.

The storms of life are also a force to be reckoned with. They hit at unexpected times and in unpredictable ways. Economic hardships, family strife, illness, death… the list goes on and on.

Just as Jesus calmed the storm for his disciples, he can also bring peace as we face the storms of life. Sometimes he calms the storm; sometimes he calms us as the storm rages on.

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”—Mark 4:39-40.