Still moments are of course inevitable; but as quickly as they come to pass so too do the rough waves which toss us about and pull us under rendering us utterly powerless and vulnerable.
Whilst some people's lives appear to sail along smoothly without any ripples or waves, others seem to endure brutal passages full of hardship, pain and turmoil.
And when our lives replicate the latter, we are often left perplexed and desperately yearning for a life that is forever still and serene.
However as cliché as it may sound, it is not the still and tranquil passages that define who we really are or, even more importantly, what we are capable of in this life.
Rather it is the tumultuous times that present us with opportunities; we can either triumph or we can drown. Drowning is of course the simplest choice; it requires letting go and totally succumbing to our troubles and pain.
But prevailing requires something more of us, something deeper and more exquisite.
And in these moments we can choose to become the best version of ourselves or we can become the version that the world expects of us, a bitter and angry and unforgiving being.
Of course in the midst of an unrelenting and harsh storm, these aren't the sentiments that tend to come to mind, nor comfort us.
Instead we cry out "WHY GOD?" or "WHY ME?" before settling into a deep sphere of self-pity and despair. We journey to a place where we can be totally submerged in our own troubles.
When I have faced difficult chapters in my own life, I often reside in a land of self-absorption and self-pity.
But if that is as far as I, or even you, progress after enduring a brutal storm, than it was all for nothing. If we cannot grow or learn once we had faced the brutality of gossip or rejection or fear, then the storm obviously taught us nothing.
Reflection is paramount
Thus reflection is paramount and introspection essential during those calm and still waters following the storm.
There has to be a point to it all…and more often than not it isn't the resolution that enriches us, but rather it is self-reflection, introspection and ownership over our own sins which truly frees us.
This is why we must value the storms and the opportunities that they provide for us to reflect and to grow. And most importantly to become more Christ-like.
Louisa May Allcott, author of the classic tale Little Women, said "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship".
Let us all sail our ships through stormy seas and through tranquil waters, knowing that despite the trials we will certainly face along the way, God is journeying with us and allowing us to grow closer to him despite ourselves.
Alison Barkley lives in Newcastle and is a post graduate student at Deakin University.
Alison Barkley's archive of articles may be viewed at: www.pressserviceinternational.org/alison-barkley.html