Jesus Calms Life’s Storms
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
-- Luke 8:22-24a
They were afraid, these seasoned fishermen. With good reason, I might add. The storm was sudden and could easily have been deadly. Except for the power of Jesus. The power of faith.
Did you know that the Sea of Galilee isn’t really a sea? It’s a lake that lies 680 feet below sea level. It’s surrounded by hills. Winds blowing across intensify when they are over the lake, often causing sudden and violent storms.
So, yes, these experienced fishermen were afraid. They understood that a sudden storm could turn deadly. They knew that the waves -- which even today can top 20 feet in a storm -- could capsize their boat and cause them all to drown.
It’s important to understand that their fear was justified. Sometimes we get upset with ourselves, believing that we shouldn’t be afraid. Or we think that Jesus doesn’t understand, that He doesn’t see that the danger is real and that we are justified in our fear. But He does see. Jesus does understand.
This passage of Scripture always reminds me of another one. Mark 14:22-33 tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples in yet another storm. And, yes, they were afraid as Jesus walked toward them on the water. When Peter climbed out of the boat and started toward Jesus, he was fine. It was when he took his eyes off of Jesus that he began to sink.
Isn’t that how it is for us? We do just fine so long as we focus on Jesus. It’s when we take our eyes off of Him, when our vision becomes clouded with fear, that we start to sink. That’s when we lose hope and panic. Just like the disciples who found themselves on a boat in a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
It’s just so easy to think that God doesn’t see us in the storm. Or to think He doesn’t care. We feel like orphans, abandoned to a cruel world. It’s not true, of course. But fear -- and Satan -- have a way of making us believe those lies.
Joyce Meyer says that fear is okay. Don’t run from it. Real power comes in recognizing the fear -- and following God anyway. Because God is in the storm with you. Stay focused on Him. You won’t sink because He’s got you by the hand. Have faith. You’ve got Jesus in your corner and He is the One who calms the storm.
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