In Luke 8:22–24 (NLT): 22 One day, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly, the storm stopped, and all was calm.
Jesus Calms Storms
Do you enjoy storms? Here in Oklahoma, they become serious business when all the conditions are right. Just a few weeks ago, storms developed and before long, we experienced over twenty-five tornadoes across our state. They destroyed several small communities in their paths. People prayed for them to end, like the disciples did with Christ on the lake. They continued to rage, causing loss of life and property.
When Jesus doesn’t calm the storms of life, do we give up our faith? Sometimes, we must root our faith in the truth of God’s word and not base it on what we see around us. But, for some of us, when the storms rise, fears can overwhelm the soul. And our human response becomes like the disciple’s, who replaced their trust in Jesus with all-out panic and doubt. So what lesson can we learn in those moments?
Faith Calms a Different Storm
Maybe God has a different purpose for the storm. Is He trying to teach us something? We continue the story in Luke 8:25 (NIV): “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Perhaps the storm increases our faith and trust in God. The disciples discovered that the winds and the waves obeyed Jesus’ command and the incident deepened their faith. So, let’s use the experiences of our fore-fathers to learn to strengthen our faith in the storms.
Bible Verse to Calm Our Hearts
- “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work… He brings the clouds … to water his earth and show his love.” Job 37:5-7, 13 (NIV). The storms are never out of God’s control. Jesus slept in the boat with the disciples because He knew His father was in the storm and Jesus trusted God. We can learn a lot from that reaction and model it when our circumstance appears out of control.
- “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2 (NIV). God is with us in the storms. He knows what you need and when you need it. And He promises to never leave us or forsake us.
- “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 (NIV). God wants us to turn to Him when we feel afraid. And, when we turn to Him in our moments of fear, our faith deepens along with our connection to our Father. Then, the next time the storms pop up, our heart knows what to do.
Trust in the One Who Created the Storm
When we feel battered like waves crashing against the rocks and Jesus appears silent. Our faith, once strong and unyielding, now hangs by a thread, fragile as a delicate butterfly wing. Amidst the chaos, may we hear His small voice within the tempest, “Hold on,” for this storm is but a chapter in your story. Though the storm rages on, hold on to the belief that God’s love surrounds us, a fortress of strength in our weakest moments.
Prayer for the Storm
Dear Jesus, thank you for being our anchor in the storm. Help us reach out and cling to you because we know you are with us. May our faith grow as we stand firm in the winds and rain of this life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
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