Through the Storm He is in Control

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Matthew, but my favorite passage out of the book is when Jesus calms the storm. There is no explanation I can give as to why this specific passage is what I turn to when I am full of emotion and feel so unsteady.

As I continue my walk with God, I realize that nothing in this world is permanent or final, except God's word. The world and my circumstances are constantly changing, but the one thing that never changes is Him. He is with me through the good and the bad. Through the storm, He is present and unmoving. The waves obey him.

Jesus calms the storm

"And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, 'Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?" -Matthew 8:23-27

The disciples were exactly where Jesus told them to be. They followed in obedience and stepped into the boat with Jesus. Yet they still encountered a violent storm.

We often assume that even when we are walking faithfully with God, life is easier, but that is not the case. This passage reminds me that storms can come even when I am walking in obedience. Being in God's presence doesn't mean I won't have to walk through raging waves or storms, but it means He will be with me, and there is no reason to be afraid or worried.

Jesus' presence on the boat did not immediately calm the storm or keep the disciples from being afraid. We as believers still experience anxiety and fear; it is how we respond to it that matters. When the disciples were afraid, they went to Jesus in hopes He would save them. When I am anxious or overthinking and worrying about what the next day holds, I have quickly realized that going to God in prayer is what calms my nerves, and in my time in prayer, God reminds me that He is with me and I need to put my trust in Him and remember that He will see me through it.

Chaos has a way of making us forget everything we know to be true. In difficult seasons, we forget God's faithfulness in the past and are only focused on the storm in front of us. This passage reminds us that Jesus's words are final and our trust needs to be in Him.

In the passage, Jesus responds to their plea, saying, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" and then rebukes the waves, calming the storm. To me, this is the most powerful verse in the entire passage. Jesus called into question the hearts of His disciples, and then he changed their circumstances. Jesus does that within us too. It is not about needing a sense of calm, but about having a trusting heart. When life gets busy, I pray for God to change the circumstances, but even when praying, my heart and my mind are focused on my life, instead of how blessed I am to have a faithful Father who is with me through it all. God calls our hearts into question before He changes our circumstances.

There is nothing we will face that is beyond God's authority. His word is final. If it is His will, it will be done.

In this passage, the greatest miracle wasn't that the waves stopped, it was that Jesus was in the boat and His presence and word changed everything.

As you go through this week, remember that whatever storm you're facing, Jesus is in the boat with you.

Quiet Time Questions 💬

• What is Jesus doing while the storm is raging?
• What storms or chaotic situations are you currently facing?
• Have you ever felt like God was silent or distant during a difficult season? What was that like?
• What storm do you need to bring before Jesus today?
• How can you thank God for His presence even before the storm passes?
• When life feels overwhelming, do you tend to focus more on the waves or on Jesus?

I would love to pray for you, so feel free to share any prayer requests. I'd also love to hear from you! How have you seen God's faithfulness in your life this week? Your story may be the encouragement someone else needs today.