Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
There are people in certain professions that see grief and heartache on a regular basis. Emergency room workers, medics, doctors, funeral directors, law-enforcement officers, pastors, and other professionals deal with hurting people due to some storm that has entered their lives. Because of this, we are less prone to be shocked when something happens in our own life. Life is hard. Life is full of unknowns. Life is unfair. Storms come into our lives with very little discrimination and sometimes no warning. Storms happen to people of all walks of life. It rains on all of us, just and unjust.
The disciples were terrified in the above story. The storm was sudden, fierce, and full of waves rocking the boat. It just so happened that Jesus was in their boat. He was not terrified. He was not screaming in fear. He was not scared for His life. In fact, He was asleep. When awakened He seemed surprised that they were so afraid. Of course, as the Creator of all things, He had no fear. He also had the ability to calm the storm.
It is very important in our lives to keep Jesus “in our boat.” Storms will come. Surprises will take our breath away and threaten our peace. Inevitably things will happen that we don’t see coming. A phone call can change everything. The loss of someone we love, an illness that threatens our lives or lifestyle, or a hundred other things mostly likely will happen to us in a lifetime. “Lord, save us” was the disciples’ prayer.
Whether you shout it above the storm or whisper it in the blackness of the night, He will hear your prayer. He will not leave you or forsake you. He will not be shocked by whatever is happening and He will help you walk through the unexpected. He sees around the corners that we can’t.
Don’t give up. Don’t let go of your faith. Be strong in the Lord. Trust Him and remember, “Even the winds and waves obey Him!”