Faith Through The Storm

 By: Paula Short

"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!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples." Luke 8:23-25— NIV

Normally, the rocking motion of a boat on the water would put Peter to sleep. A fisherman before he gave it all up to follow Jesus, he was used to rough nights on the water. 

But there was something different about this storm. There was a strange feeling in his gut that Peter couldn't shake. He glanced around to see the other disciples talking among themselves.

Jesus' disciples were not frightened without cause. Even though several of them were expert fishermen and knew how to handle a boat, their distress was real.

Through the pouring rain, Peter began to wonder where Jesus was. When he'd looked everywhere, Peter went below deck and was stunned at what he saw. There was his Jesus, sleeping as peacefully as a baby! Didn't He know what was happening?

He quickly grabbed onto Jesus' shoulder and shook him. "We're about to drown here!" His urgency was unmistakable. Jesus swiftly rises and calms the storm. "Where is your faith?" he asks in the sudden silence.

When we encounter storms in life—like a concerning health diagnosis, the death of a friend, or a disengaged loved one—it can feel like we're going to drown. The pain threatens to take us under, and we doubt we'll survive that rip tide.

It's in these moments that we're tempted to doubt and say, "Jesus, are you asleep in my storm"?

When caught in the storms of life, it's easy to think that God has lost control and that we're at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is sovereign. He controls the history of the world as well as our personal destinies. Just as Jesus calms the waves, he can calm whatever storms you may face.

But just as Jesus proved He was in control of the wind and waves that night, He's in control of your storm, too. The pain won't last forever, and the skies will clear again. God is holding onto you today, beloved.

Reflection

Have you ever felt like that when you're facing a troubling circumstance? When it seems like Jesus checked out and left you all alone!