Week 37 - With Christ In The Storms Of Life
“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” (Matthew 14:27)
11 September 2001 — a day we will never forget. It was the day that shocked the whole world. Almost four years later on 7 July 2005, terrorists struck again, this time in the heart of London. On this latter incident, the element of surprise was absent. Tony Blair in his statement just hours after the bombing said: “We have been expecting that something of these sorts will happen sooner or later.”
Jesus knew the importance of being prepared for a crisis. Hence, in the three years that He spent with His disciples, He made it a point to prepare them for the trials and persecution that lay ahead. One such preparation took place in
I believe there are three things we can learn from the experience of the disciples as they went through a storm in the Sea of Galilee.
The Lord Knows Your Situation — You Need Not Worry
Section titled “The Lord Knows Your Situation — You Need Not Worry”Firstly, the Lord knows our situations and we need not worry. We read in verse 22 that it was Jesus who told the disciples to go “to the other side” while He dismissed the crowd. Jesus had set the voyage for His disciples. The storm came because they were in the will of God and not (like Jonah) out of the will of God.
Did Jesus know that the storm was coming? Certainly! Did He purposely direct them into the storm? Yes! They were safer in the storm in God’s will than on land with the crowds out of God’s will. We must never judge our security on the basis of circumstances alone.
Many Christians have the mistaken idea that obedience to God’s will produce “smooth sailing.” But this is not true. “In the world you shall have tribulation,” Jesus promised (
It seems to me that there are two kinds of storms: storms of disobedience when God disciplines us, and storms of obedience when God helps us to grow. Jonah was in a storm because he disobeyed God and had to be disciplined. The disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Christ and their faith had to be strengthened.
The terrorists in the London bombing thought they could get away with it. They thought no one saw what they did. But the fact is that thousands of video cameras caught them in their act. When we are facing a storm in our lives, we can be sure that the eyes of the Lord are focused on us. Or as a hymn has it, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!”
The Lord Will Come to Your Side — You Need Not Fear
Section titled “The Lord Will Come to Your Side — You Need Not Fear”Secondly, the Lord will come to our side and we need not fear. Verse 24 indicates that the boat was already a considerable distance from land and the wind was against it. With no life jackets onboard and no way to radio for help, what would you do if you were there? Why did the disciples not turn the boat around? Because Jesus had said, “Cross to the other side.” They obeyed.
Then during the fourth watch (between three and six o’clock in the morning), Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. Not till the last watch of the night did He come, after they had long struggled, the boat was out in the very middle of the lake, and the storm was fiercest. We may learn from this the delays of His love. Because He loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus, He stayed still, in inaction, for two days after receiving their message. Heaven’s clock goes at different rate from our wrist watches. God’s day is a thousand years and the longest delay is but “a little while.” When He has come, we find that it is the perfect timing, though before He came, He seemed to us to delay.
Are you still wondering when God is going to answer that urgent prayer of yours? He will do so not one minute too early or too late. In the hour of the disciples’ greatest need, Jesus came to them.
The Lord Will Reveal to You His Power — You Need Not Despair
Section titled “The Lord Will Reveal to You His Power — You Need Not Despair”Thirdly, the Lord will reveal his power to us — we need not despair. Verse 32 mentioned that the “wind died down.” Jesus has power over nature for He created nature. Then, the disciples worshipped Him saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” We ought to imitate the disciples by bowing at His feet, and acknowledging that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
The storms of life are not easy to weather but they are necessary. They teach us to trust Jesus Christ alone and to obey His Word, no matter what the circumstances may be.
Brothers and sisters, are you experiencing a storm in your life right now? Be encouraged if you are. God knows what you are going through. He will come to your side and He will reveal Himself to you. Your part is to turn your eyes upon Jesus and just keep trusting the Lord.
With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm, Smile at the storm, smile at the storm; With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm, As we go sailing home.