Matthew 8:23-27 (BBE)
23 And when he had got into a boat, his disciples went after him.
24 And there came up a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was sleeping.
25 And they came to him, and, awaking him, said, Help, Lord; destruction is near.
26 And he said to them, Why are you full of fear, O you of little faith? Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 And the men were full of wonder, saying, What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea do his orders?
Small boat, big storm and the sleeping Jesus! Doesn’t look good, does it?
This could be a scene from a bad movie but thank God it’s the Christian’s life, a recipe for a miracle. Many of us know from experience that the waters of life are not always calm, things and life can get without any doubt stormy quickly.
Are you going through a tough time and season right now? Do you want to shout, as the disciples did in their wave-torn boat; don’t you care about me at all God? How can Jesus sleep at a time like this? Does he not realise that I am in trouble and need him? Why doesn’t he do something to help? The one with the answer is in the boat with you sleeping, relax, he’s got you covered!
We may not be using boats much today, but essentially, your heart, spirit and life could be a boat for the Lord. You are a carrier of grace and therefore of Christ who dwells in you richly according to Colossians 3:13.
Do you feel that your life is like that little boat in the storm? That you are being tossed around by the waves, about to capsize at any moment. Where is Jesus? Why would He leave me to suffer like this? He’s with you and always in control. According to Job 9:8, the sea cannot stop Christ from reaching you, if He can walk on water, and calm the sea, he can stop the waves.
The trials and struggles we face have a way of making us desperate for help, for relief and ultimately for God.
We want Jesus to take it all away.
We want Jesus to calm the storm.
But sometimes, like those disciples in that wave-battered boat, we miss the comfort that is right there with us all along, while looking elsewhere for comfort and relief.
The one who speaks to the storm, waves and seas is in your boat, in your heart, your life and spirit. He’s even napping-so why panic? He’s calmed the sea before, He can and will do it again because the waters see him according to Psalm 77:16.
If you remain in the boat where He is, you will not sink, or drown. Stay in the boat where the Lord is.
It is natural to fear and express anger or feel abandoned amid life storms. We forget like the disciples forgot, that God is in with us. GOD is in the boat of life. Nothing is impossible to Him. Nothing is out of His control.
Instead of panicking, we simply need to curl up next to Jesus, cling to Him and ride out the storm. Is Jesus asleep in your boat? Go cling to Him. It’s the safest place you’ll find in the eyes of the storm.
When everything in life comes unglued, we will find that there are faithful, caring people around us who will carry us and hold us until the storm passes. When some storm rages, they stand beside you—they may be just as powerless as you are now. But having them with us makes all the difference in our world.
Learn to stay in the boat, with confident assurance that the Lord is with you in the boast, and will not allow harm to come to you, He will see you through.
Shalom