In the Eye of the Storm by Abraham Hunter

Sometimes we all live behind a “mask” to cover up the storm in our lives and the pain we are facing. Behind my mask and persona, my life was so tough and, quite honestly, just dark last year and at the beginning of this year. Probably the only time that comes close in comparison was when my family was homeless and in extreme poverty when I was a kid. This spring has been far better but still a big challenge as I’ve dealt with a colicky newborn, the struggle as a young father to find a work and life balance, falling behind in my work, health issues, handling criticisms from almost all fronts, and the other stresses of life that I won’t even start to get in to. No matter what I’ve achieved in my life, I’ve always felt like I had to keep fighting the current so I don’t drown, and with everything piling up I’ve just felt so confused and overwhelmed. I know most everyone reading this has been in the same boat before.
One day I got to my studio and found myself humming “In The Eye Of The Storm” for some reason, and I played it on YouTube. About halfway through, some of the words hit me hard, and I felt like expressing how I wanted God to part the dark roaring waves of my life and give my mind some peace. A couple of weeks earlier, my wife had drawn a sketch of Jesus calming the storms. I taped her sketch up to the wall for reference, grabbed the largest canvas in my studio, and immersed myself in the story of Jesus commanding the wind and weather to be at peace. I just finished this 28”x42” the other day, and it’s amazing to me that my mind seems to be more at peace already. I guess I learned from my own painting. In this painting, I tried to capture the bewildered disciples and the mass of confused dark waves that had made them afraid for their lives. This tangled mass of waves and storm clouds races away from the power of Jesus’ command to be still, and the eye of the storm breaks as heaven’s light pours down on the peaceful waters surrounding the boat. After painting this, now when I read the story of Jesus calming the seas, I see it with through new eyes. Fear had ruled the waves of the sea and the minds of the disciples, but when Jesus stood up and stretched out His arms, it was the turning point in the storm! Enough was enough! Darkness could not keep running the show anymore! It was time for peace! “In The Eye Of The Storm,” Jesus remains in control of everything!