Strength in the Storms

We all have storms in our life. Some of you may be in a storm right now. Some are coming out of a storm recently. Many of us will indeed face storms that we don’t even know what they are yet.

My heart particularly goes out to anyone who is a mom today. Motherhood is a wonderfully joyful experience, but also can be a tremendous storm to weather at times. I know what I put my mom through — sometimes it was extremely difficult - families are a place where people weather storms together— but what I hope to accomplish today is to encourage you the way Jesus encouraged his disciples, on the waters of Galilee again— how to weather and face the storms of life— similar to what we read back in Chapter 8.

Matthew 14:22 NIV

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

Matthew 14:23–24 NIV

23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Like a mother bird pushes her babies out of the nest just at the appropriate time— Jesus instructs his disciples, after a great sequence of miracles, teachings and happenings (including the death of his cousin, John the Baptist)— to get into a boat and cross over the sea of Galilee.

There are several lessons that I think we can observe here in this story— and I want you to be able to keep them handy with our weekly sermon outline— if you don’t have one of these, please feel free to take one with you as you leave today— and keep it— just in case you find yourself in a storm someday— maybe it can encourage you:

Lessons to Survive your Storm:

#1: Expect a storm

Storms may happen while we are obeying Jesus.

Were these disciples in the will of God here on this journey? Sure.

Jesus told them to go on the trip. What are you facing today? Are you doing what Jesus has told you to do? Then lets be mature about our situation and remember what He told his disciples:

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Right in the middle of God’s will for them— here they are fighting a storm, with the winds against them.

Just because you might be in a storm right now— a hard time— this doesn’t mean you are NOT in God’s will. I used to work with student-athletes who would be discouraged. Going through a track meet in a storm was pretty much the worst experience. They would often come and whine a little, and complain that it was cold, or wet— that they weren’t competing well— I would sometimes just take my bag and begin to pack things up— “Well, you’re right, lets go— I’ll get the van warmed up— we’ll just go back to campus”.

“Wait— what?— Oh yeah— you’re cold and wet— we probably should just pack it in.

NO— that’s not what I meant. Oh, ok— so what are we going to do then? I guess we are going to do the best we can. Yep.

The path to holiness, the path to maturity, the path that Jesus calls us to isn’t always smooth and easy— it’s a narrow way, and not many travel on it, remember? Back in Matthew 4, we read about Jesus’ own storm— His temptation in the wilderness. The scripture says that the “holy spirit led Jesus to the wilderness”. This storm absolutely is a part of God’s plan. Did he send it? I don’t know— but I do know that he will use all things ultimately for the good of those who love him. I think that in this boat, rowing and trying to fight this storm is ACTUALLY the better place for these men to be—because they are in God’ will— than to be anywhere on the shoreline or in their beds tucked in safe and warm.

#2 Storms remind us of God’s promises. (v. 22)

Where is the promise you might ask? Well, here’s my best shot: In the verse 22, Jesus tells them to go ahead of him, to the other side. And if the God of all creation has asked me to go to the other side— I’m thinking He is going to get me to the other side!

Can you imagine if they had heard what He said with that attitude? They might even, in some weird way, ENJOY the storm.

Knowing that they were guaranteed to make the other side.

The storms however, can act as a reminder to us— the storm sends us back to the promises.

How about this one:

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He is with you in the fire. Nothing can separate us from Him and His love.

Not even a storm can separate us from God’s love.

American pastor and author, Warren Wiersbe, once said:

“We live by the promises… not by the explanations”.

#3: Even when we can’t see Jesus, He sees us. (v. 23)

Could the disciples somehow see Jesus up on that dark mountainside? Of course not. Through the storm, we cannot often see Jesus— but what was He doing? Look back at verse 23— he was praying.

He saw them— he knew the exact location of that boat— he knew the exact speed of the wind— he knew how much force they were up against in every-way—He could see them and He was praying for them.

My father in law was a great man of God. I haven’t told you much about him often, because he just passed away back in February, after what we all saw as just a sequence of health crises stacked up on top of each other for about four years. Cancer, a back surgery, organs removed from his body. And finally a nervous disorder that made speaking, swallowing and even breathing extremely difficult. He loved his wife, He adored his daughters, cherished the time he had with his sons in law, and all 12 of his grandchildren— even met one of his Great-grandchildren — and was so so proud of the legacy we all representing.

I had the privilege to take him to one of his last doctors appointments— he was really struggling, and as we drove along, he was looking out the window and reflectively said— Well, Chas (that was his nickname for me)— I think this is about the end of me.

Well— are you ok with that? I said. “Yeah, (he replied) just because I don’t know what He’s up to— I just trust that He knows what He’s up to.”

Jesus sees the plan for us, even when we can’t.

#4: Jesus will come to us, just at the right time. (v. 25)

Matthew 14:25 NIV

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

Matthew 14:26–27 NIV

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Other translations of the text mention the “fourth watch of the night”— or by Roman time— 3:00-6:00am in the morning. The disciples are probably exhausted, beat up by the wind and the storm. But Jesus makes himself known— and appears. Just at the right moment. I know this is hard to grapple with— especially if you are in the midst of that storm right now. He’s God, and we are not. Trust Him, and hang on, stay on the course that He has sent you on— and wait for Him.

#5 Our fear could be Jesus in disguise. (v.26)

These men have walked with Jesus for perhaps a couple years at this point— but they don’t see him, and they don’t even consider the fact that it might be Him!

They quite literally didn’t see Jesus in the storm. They assumed something really crazy was going on!

Really, all that they’ve seen Him do— all that they have experienced. And their first response is: “That’s a Ghost!”

Mark’s gospel has an interesting way of explaining this— it’s the parallel passage:

Mark 6:48 (NIV)

48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

Passing by them? Why would He do that? I think He wanted them to see him— obviously. And when they didn’t recognize him, he reveals himself to them.

Does Jesus come to us— or even better, does He go ahead of us in our storms— and we never even recognize it’s Him? Perhaps not— but praise Him that he does reveal himself— with his authority: “Don’t be afraid, it is me.”

The very water that these guys were fighting, and afraid of, what under the feet of Jesus!

Jesus is above our storm.

Ephesians 1:22–23 NIV

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

#6 Our focus affects our ability to walk with Him. (v. 30)

Matthew 14:28 NIV

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

Matthew 14:29 NIV

29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:30 NIV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Alot of preachers would remind you here that “if Peter would have just kept his focus on Jesus— “ Yes, absolutely— but we live in a real world— Peter saw the wind and waves. Lets at least give him credit for getting out of the boat.

Matthew 14:31 NIV

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

If we get our information from the biblical material there is no doubt that the Christian life is a dancing, leaping, daring life.

Eugene Peterson

Conclusion

Matthew 14:32 NIV

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

Matthew 14:33 NIV

33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The storms lead us to know the truth and worship Jesus. (v. 33)

Richard Gardner

writes in his Matthew commentary that this story is itself a parable for the church— We are proper disciples together working on the assignment Jesus gave us— The resistance to our task is clear. The Lord will appear to us, and Peter expresses our initial faithful attempt to follow him. But Peter’s failing represents our failing as well— but ultimately Jesus is indeed there to catch us, join us in the boat— calm the storms— which leads to an increase in our faith— and a deepening of our worship.