Storms

Luke 8.22-25 tells us that Jesus chose to take His disciples on a boat to get from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the other.

Jesus fell asleep as the boat left shore. Violent winds and huge waves rocked the boat. Danger surrounded the boat and terrified the disciples.

The disciples woke Jesus telling Him, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus was not afraid because He knew God was in control. One pastor put it this way, “Jesus knew that He was not going to die by drowning.”

Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waters. He calmed the storm.

With fear and amazement, the disciples asked each other, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”

We are often quick to criticize the disciples and make their lack of faith the point of the story. However, let us consider how they show us examples of how we should follow Jesus in our storms.

First, the disciples were near Jesus. 

They spent time with Him, listened to His teachings, watched Him do miracles, and participated in His ministry. When Jesus said to get on the boat, the disciples obeyed quickly because they were near Him. Likewise, being near Jesus needs to be our life and lifestyle.

What does being near God mean to a believer especially when God is already everywhere? It is being in relationship with Him. It is about our hearts, not physical proximity. For example, a friend and a stranger may both be standing equal distance from you. However, you are closer to your friend because of your relationship with him or her.

James 4:8 points out that if “you come near to God, He will come near to you.”  We come near to God when we grow deeper, closer and more intimate with Him. When we grow in relationship with by spending time with Him, praying to Him, read the Bible, involving ourselves in ministry, sharing life with other believers and telling people how to have a relationship with God through Jesus.

Second, the disciples called on Jesus during the storm. 

For many of us, instead of calling on Jesus, we look to other sources for help and to find answers. We depend on people more than we do God. At times, we are even angry with God and blame Him for the storms in our lives.  So we do not call on Him.

The disciples could have tried to fix the problem themselves—some of them were fishing experts. Besides, Jesus was sleeping. Have you ever struggled with whether or not to wake someone up even if you needed help? Your spouse, your neighbor, your parents, or friends. The inner tension, “Should I or should I not?”

In light of the few options they had, the disciples recognized that this was beyond their expertise and called on Jesus because they recognized He was their only hope. Likewise, we need to call on Jesus because He is more than our only hope, He is our best hope.

Many times, God puts us in storms because storms put us in a position to see our need to call on Him. Will we choose to pray? Will we choose to seek God? Will we choose to cry out to Him? If you are thinking about it, just do it and allow God to do what only He can do.

Third, the disciples recognized what Jesus did. 

God is always at work around us. The question is, Do you recognize God working around you? As a pastor, there are times I face discouragement and wonder if God is there and if He cares. This often happens when I stop recognizing that God is working around me.

But when I stop and reflect on what God is doing, I can truly say God is at work. My daily Bible reading often speaks to my heart. A phone call or email encourages me. People will send a letter or email that speaks into my life. God provides resources at the right moment. Lives and circumstances change for the glory of God. People become on fire for God after serving Him in the community or overseas. People who at one time did not want anything to do with God now wanting everything to do with Him. The list can go on and on.

When we add up all that God has done in our lives, we will stand amazed. When we experience and witness God working around us, we cannot help but know God is real, that He loves us and desires the best for us.

Will you choose to follow Jesus in the midst of your storm? I would like to leave you with some Bible verses that will encourage you through a storm you may be going through right now or one that you will go through in the future.

God protects.

“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 84)

God makes His riches available to us.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4.19 (NIV 84)

God provides strength.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10.13 (NIV 84)

God turns current struggles into future glory.

 “⁴(God) comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”  2 Corinthians 1.4-6 (NIV 84)

God uses storms to mature us.

“² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  James 1.2-4 (NIV 84)