Ride Out the Storm With Jesus!

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After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples, a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat.  Jesus was sound asleep, so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  But Jesus replied, “Why are you so afraid? You surely don’t have much faith.” Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm.  The men in the boat were amazed and said, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him.”

Matthew 8:23-27

Storms will come, even when you are in the boat with Jesus! Some have suggested that Jesus intended for the disciples to exercise their faith and order the storm to calm down. That certainly is possible, but it is also the case that He may have hoped they would have enough faith to ride out the storm and not panic.

It was the disciples who were afraid. Jesus was sleeping peacefully. Do you believe that if the disciples had not roused the Lord from sleep, they would have all drowned? I believe they could have trusted that God Himself had a plan for Jesus and for His disciples and that that plan would be fulfilled regardless of the storms on the lake!

If the disciples had let Jesus sleep and even not commanded the storm to stop, the will of God would not have been harmed at all by the wind and the rain! Perhaps it would have been a sign of faith if the disciples had spoken to the storm, or perhaps it would have been a sign of even greater faith if they had followed the lead of Jesus and ignored the storm altogether!

If you are “in the boat with Jesus” today and a storm comes upon your lake, what should you do? The answer to that question is this: Do whatever Jesus tells you to do. If Jesus is in your boat don't fear, and don't panic! Jesus will be fine and if you are with Him, you will too!

“Lord Jesus, if the storms in my life need to be calmed for me to stay close to You, then speak to my storms, or tell me to do it! But if You want to let me cling on to You as we feel the wind and the waves, then give me the faith to hold on to You and ride out the storm! Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever. Amen.”