“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.”
After an exhausting day of teaching, Jesus asked to cross over to the other side of the lake. He needed rest away from the crowds. A furious storm came up and suddenly their lives were in danger. The Sea of Galilee is notorious for ferocious, unpredictable storms. The Word tells the waves broke over the boat so that it was swamped. Jesus' disciples did everything humanly possible to keep the boat afloat. As waves thrashed against the ship, the vessel took on the water. Yet, Jesus was asleep. He must have been remarkably tired and exhausted in His human form.
Realize, Jesus was the One who sent them out on this journey. It wasn't their idea. Recognize they were actually in the will of Christ. Some people mistakenly think that when trouble comes their way, this must not be the will of God. Dear people, that is not consistent with the stories of the Bible. In fact, it seems it is quite often the other way around. God's people were in trouble all the time because they were being obedient to what God wanted. When God promises blessing it is not the type that the world thinks.
Our peaceful lives are often interrupted by disturbing storms. It may be a little unexpected shower, like a cutting statement that wounds our pride, or it may be a brutal hurricane, like the loss of loved ones, the collapse of a business, or devastating news from the doctor that "It's terminal."
Every person experiences storms even Christians. Having Jesus in their boat did not exempt the disciples from being battered by a serious storm nor will it in your life or in mine. The disciples were not being punished for disobedience. They were obedient. They were doing exactly what the Lord had asked them to do and yet they got themselves into temporary difficulty.
A child of God will also endure accidents, malignancies, tornados and more but trusting in Him will give you the foundation to withstand the storms.
Life's storms often hit us without warning. You might begin your day in an ordinary way, not realizing that within seconds your life can be upside down. You may be injured, or killed in an auto accident on your way home from church. You don't plan those things, as I can attest when Judi’s car was hit and she was in recuperation of various sorts for almost a year.
Zig Ziglar pointed out that, while there's danger when the boat leaves the harbor, that's what boats are for. There is more danger when the plane leaves the runway. There is danger when an individual ventures forth in life. That is what we as children of God are meant to do, but the greatest danger is when we sit and do nothing for His Kingdom.
Application: Daily seek Gods word to prepare for the storms of life that may come our way.
Prayer: Lord, I look to Your Word to strengthen me for the stors of life that will come my way. May I be like Peter and "come back to strengthen the brethren" with what You word in me.
