All of us experience powerful storms in our lives. In those dark moments, Jesus is there, He cares. It may feel like you are all alone, but Jesus is in the boat with you: even though you may not be able to see Him, His voice will speak peace to the wind, calming the waves buffeting you.
When Jesus got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marvelled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27, NKJV)
In the first part of Matthew 8, the disciples had seen some amazing miracles: a leper completely healed; an officer in the Roman army, his servant was healed. For one of the men in the boat, Peter, his own mother-in-law was healed. Yet something was to happen, some so dramatic, that the disciples began to wonder who Jesus really was.
The disciples were not ordinary men. Some were fishermen. They were used to a rough, hard life. They were used to the sea. Yet these strong men were amazed. Two separate things shocked them. First was the velocity of the storm; the second was Jesus - by the end of the storm, they saw Him in a completely different light: this encounter changed their lives.
The wind and the waves were so strong. The ship was going faster than ever before. And the boat was filling with water; it was going to sink. These men were in danger. They were crying out: ‘Don’t You understand, we are going to die?!’ But there was one factor they hadn’t considered, Jesus was in the boat with them. It doesn’t matter how strong the storm is, or how great the problems are, when Jesus is with you, there is no need to be afraid.
Christ in you; the hope of glory
That is the difference in life: a storm without Jesus can be fatal, but if you have Jesus in the boat, He says, ‘Don’t be afraid; only believe.’ The Scripture teaches that one of the glorious mysteries of faith is, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ - Whatever the storm, He is our hope in this life and for eternity. (Colossians 1:27, NIV.)
Becoming a Christian doesn’t prevent life’s storms, in fact, Scripture teaches that the wind and the rain come to us all, but when your life is built on the rock, you will still be standing. (Matthew 7:24-27.) Life is full of problems. I have enough problems. Sometimes we face sickness. Sometimes it is the break-up of family relationships. It can be financial problems. But the difference is this: the Christian believer is someone who has received Christ into their life. God with us. God in us. The Power of God. The love of God. The life of God, in us!
When these disciples were afraid because the boat was sinking, they cried out and searched for Jesus. But they couldn’t find Him. Why? Because in the midst of the storm, He was asleep. They were running up and down, shouting, afraid, but Jesus was asleep. When they found Him, they shook Him until He woke up. They said, ‘Master, don’t You care?’
Jesus is with you - a present help in times of trouble
The miracle is, Jesus does care. He knows. He understands. Jesus is in the storm with you. When you hear the wind and see the storm, don’t be afraid, Jesus is right there with you. He is not remote and cut off from us. He is here. He is with you. He is in your home. He’s in the boat with you.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:1-3, NKJV)
‘God is in control’ used by kind permission of www.vinesong.com