TRUST JESUS IN THE STORMS OF LIFE

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
A children’s song goes like this: “With Jesus in the boat we can smile in the storm, smile in the storm, smile in the storm. With Jesus is in the boat we can smile in the storm as we’re sailing home. Sailing, Sailing home, Sailing, Sailing home. With Jesus in the boat we can smile in the storm as we’re sailing home.” Children love the song because it has hand motions. So they are having fun while learning an important truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpkQ-Bb78sU

On the other hand, according to the passage above, the disciples hadn’t quite learned this lesson. When a storm broke over the lake and storms came up fast on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples truly believed that this was it and that they were going to drown. Water was coming into the boat and they believed it would sink. In their minds they were doomed. Jesus was sleeping and the disciples woke Him. They were shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” In Mark 4:38 the disciples said to Jesus in the situation, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Does Jesus care when any type of life’s storms is just about ready to swallow us up?

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Of course Jesus cares! It was the disciples that lacked faith in Jesus’ care for them. Think about it. Jesus is in the boat with the disciples and He is sleeping peacefully. This is a picture of what our lives can be like even in the midst of life’s storms. When we understand who Jesus is and that He is in control of all things and that He cares for us, then we can trust Him even when the waves are bursting over the bow. We can be at peace in the storm as He was. He is with us and He said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5) and that He is with us “always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Are you in a storm of life right now? He has promised those who have trusted Him that He is ever with them. He is in the storm with You and wants you to have peace, the peace that He offers. It is a peace that the world cannot give— “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Have faith… trust Jesus through it all. He is faithful!

Dear Father, Oh, that I would trust You in any and all situations. Please help me to do so. Thank You for Jesus and knowing that He is totally trustworthy. May I always keep this at heart.