Weathering the Storm with Jesus

Have you ever faced a storm in life? Perhaps unstable finances, losing a job, a family member falling ill, an accident, or other unexpected things. Of course, no one hopes for a storm to come. But sometimes it is unavoidable. Why does God allow storms to happen? Then, what should our attitude and faith be in facing them?

Jesus, His Disciples, and the Storm

Luke 8: 22-25

One day Jesus got into a boat with His disciples, and He said to them: "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out. 

And as they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was filling with water and they were in danger.

Then His disciples came and woke Him, saying: "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging water. Then the wind and the water became calm, and the lake grew still.

Then He said to them: "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another: "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" – Luke 8:22-25 (TB) 

The Presence of a Storm Does Not Mean God Does Not Care

Lake Gennesaret (or commonly called the Sea of Galilee) is a freshwater lake measuring 21 km at its longest side and 13 km at its widest. This lake is known for its fairly fierce storms, which often come suddenly. The storm that happened at that time was certainly one of the worst, making Jesus' disciples afraid. Otherwise, surely some of them, who were experienced fishermen already familiar with this lake, would have been able to handle the situation. 

Jesus told His disciples to go to the region across the lake. As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. How could someone sleep in a boat being tossed about like a cork on raging waves? But in reality, no matter how fierce the storm was at that time, it did not make Jesus anxious.

Yet that was not what His disciples felt. They thought they were about to sink, and they woke Jesus up. Did they wake Jesus to ask for His help? No, they did not expect Jesus to provide help or a solution. In fact, they were surprised after witnessing Jesus calm the storm. 

Then why did they wake Him? It was more a cry of despair than a plea for help. They cried out with an accusation mixed in. In Mark 4:35-41 (the passage parallel to this event), it is written that they asked Jesus, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

 You Can Make It Through 

Like Jesus' disciples at that time, we try hard to follow Jesus. And just because we are sailing or walking with Jesus, we may feel calm with a certain thought that storms will not strike us. But sometimes violent storms strike suddenly and cause our faith to be shaken, like Jesus' disciples. 

We question why a violent storm strikes good people, and we begin to wonder, “How can we survive?” And we become upset because Jesus seems to be doing nothing. We may make the same accusation as Jesus' disciples, “Do You not care if we drown?”

Of course Jesus cares. But Jesus also had faith that they could make it through the storm, and that they would be all right, without making Jesus panic like everyone else. Jesus' calm attitude was not proof that Jesus did not care, but proof of His faith in God. He had faith that God was watching over Him, and He also had faith that the disciples could make it through this storm. 

After Jesus calmed the storm, He asked His disciples, “Where is your faith?” This is the same question He might also ask us after the storm has passed. 

I must admit that my answer might disappoint Jesus. I too have lost faith, just like Jesus' disciples did at that time. I began to wonder why storms struck me when I was striving to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. I took God's “silence” as proof that He did not care, and I accused Him. 

Walking with Jesus 

It is easy to believe in God when our life's journey is going smoothly and well. We do not need much faith to go through it. It is precisely in difficult times that we truly need faith. Will we keep our faith in God? Will our commitment to Him be shaken?

Some people draw back from or leave God when storms come. I have felt tempted to do that. What should happen is the opposite: we should draw even closer to Him.

What do our prayers sound like? How do we offer our prayers? Is it with anger, strong emotion, and complaints? Are our prayers full of accusations toward the One who has loved us so abundantly that He was willing to die for us? We may cry and plead earnestly, but let us fully trust God when we pray. 

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What storm are you facing right now? Let us return to Jesus with faith and confidence, that we are able to make it through the storm with Jesus.

Source: 

Adapted from "Ride The Storm with Jesus" on the website www.jesus365.church.

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