The Storms of Life

We just had a significant rain storm a week or so ago. There was thunder and lightning (both of which I love) as well as a deluge that dropped nearly four inches of rain in just a couple of hours. It was wild. I wonder if that’s what it was like when the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee after Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. 

“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ Jesus responded, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked. ‘Even the winds and waves obey him!’” (Matthew 8:23-27).

There are other times in our lives when, even without thunder, lightning, or rain, we feel as if we are in a great storm. A job lost. An accident. A relationship breaks up. An illness or injury to ourselves or someone we love. Then we look at the news. War in Ukraine. Inflation. A crisis at our southern border. Covid. The fentanyl epidemic. All of this can feel like waves breaking into our boat. Like we’re drowning. I understand completely. Hey, we’re human. There are days that feel overwhelming to me too.

When that happens, I try to remember this story. That Jesus commands the winds and the waves – both literally and figuratively. He can stand up and rebuke them. In an instant bring calm upon the waters again.

The key is to call on Him. The disciples cried out, “Lord, save us!” Too often we try to fix whatever struggle we are going through ourselves or with the help of others first. Then, when everything we have tried fails, we call upon Jesus. As a kind of last resort. Jesus should be our first thought. Our first instinct. He implores us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus wants to help. He is willing and certainly able to. If we try our own power first, we are basically saying we are afraid. We have so little faith. Afraid of what? That God won’t answer? Can’t do anything about it?

The disciples were “amazed” the Scriptures say. Why? He’s God. Storms are nothing to Him.

The God who created the universe and everything in it. The God who created you can easily rebuke the wind and waves – the storms – in your life. Just believe. Have faith and ask Him. You may be amazed. Not that He could do it but perhaps that He keeps doing it over and over again.

Who is this man? He is the Christ. The Son of the living God. Our LORD and savior.        

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Remember you can email praises and petitions to southchurchprayer@gmail.com. I lift them up every Wednesday at 4:00 pm on Facebook Live.