23Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.25The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”26Jesus 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.
27The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
There is a huge contrast here. Jesus and the disciples were in the same boat and the same storm. The disciples were panicked, Jesus was asleep. We are called to be like Jesus. Are we? I know that so often I am not. But think of the testimony and glory we could give to God if we were. Remember the last time you and your family (or friends or company) were in a seriously bad situation. Now imagine if you had been calm and collected the entire time. Wouldn’t you have stood out like a sore thumb! Eventually some of them would have asked you why you weren’t worried, and you would have had a great moment to tell them about Jesus.
Lord, help me to embrace the storm and smile because it is not a threat, but an opportunity. I am so sorry that I have let you down in so many storms. I know I will panic again sometime. But Lord, in the next storm that is coming, help me bring You glory! Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
Please share with us some time in your life when you either were the calm person in the storm because of Jesus, or you witnessed someone else who was.
This story hit a related nerve in me. I had, in the midst of much bad news about I.C. last year, an opportunity handed to me to help make a difference. It was the strangest thing ever to feel a calm come over me as I sat with Fr. Tom in his office, discussing whether or not I should take over as the principal. I did take that sign of the calmness as a message from God that He was calling me to this, and He would provide what I needed to do the job, and He certainly has!! Thanks, God, for taking on the storm, and giving me a source of strength and help!
I love what you wrote: “Lord, help me to embrace the storm and smile, because it is not a threat but an opportunity.” These words are now written in my journal and hopefully on my heart – they are truly words to live by. Thanks for sharing.
I love what you wrote: “Lord, help me to embrace the storm and smile because it is not a threat, but an opportunity.” These words are now written in my journal and hopefully on my heart, because these are truly words to live by. Thanks for sharing. a footnote in my Bible explaining 8:25 – “Although the disciples had witnessed many miracles, they panicked in this storm. As experienced sailors, they knew its danger; what they did not know was that Christ could control the forces of nature. THERE IS ALWAYS A DIMENSION OF OUR LIVES WHERE WE FEEL GOD CAN’T OR WON’T WORK. WHEN WE TRULY UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS HOWEVER, WE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT HE CONTROLS BOTH THE STORMS OF NATURE AND THE STORMS OF THE TROUBLED HEART.We do not need to exclude him from any areas of our life.”