Faith in the Storm

Matthew 8:23–26 NKJV

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Introduction: The Storms of Life

Life is unpredictable. One moment, all seems calm, and the next, waves crash over our lives with such ferocity that we wonder how we will survive. The scene in Matthew 8 illustrates this perfectly. The disciples are in a boat, surrounded by a violent storm. Water rushes in, the waves crash against them, and fear grips their hearts. And yet, Jesus is asleep.

Have you ever felt like that? You pray, you seek God, you read His Word, yet the storm continues. You look for signs of His presence, and it seems silent. You wonder if He cares. And sometimes, the waves of fear and anxiety threaten to overtake your faith.

A Poem in the Storm

I want to share something deeply personal with you. In a time of struggle, I wrote a poem:

"Why is His glory so far from me, When in the depths of fear, it’s Him I cannot see? John says fear is an absence of faith, But when I am in my struggle, faith is a leap too hard to take. Peace of mind seems so distant, It’s hard for me because I know God could save in an instant. Fear comes when a trigger is loosed, Next stop, depression, it seems to seduce. His words are beautiful and full of imagery, The only thing lacking is its presence in my reality. But where can we go if He has the words of eternal life? I guess some are destined for peace, others for strife. My eyes are heavy as despair weighs them down, Into the slumber of sleep until the next round."

This poem was written during a moment of personal struggle.

And as I read it again, I can remember the feelings of fear and hopelessness, but not the specific event.

Life’s storms can feel overwhelming, but God’s faithfulness remains.

Faith Versus Fear

Romans 4:20–21 NKJV

20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Abraham believed God’s promises, even when circumstances seemed impossible.

The disciples, though they had seen Jesus’ miracles, allowed fear to take over.

How often do we do the same?

Romans 4:23–24 reminds us:

Romans 4:23–25 NKJV

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Faith is trusting God’s promises,

Even when the waves are high,

Even when the storm is raging,

Even when Jesus seems asleep.

Faith is active trust.

Faith is calling out to Jesus,

Even when your voice shakes.

Storms in the Natural World and Life

We are familiar with storms in our geography.

Recently, Yadi & I invested in a Tornado shelter, and had it installed in our home.

We did it of course for the storms that come through our area,

But also because we want to prevent our son Ezra from walking off on his own should a storm rip up our home.

Not long ago that happened to folks in nearby Kentucky,

Tornadoes recently leveled several neighborhoods there,

killing over fifty people and leaving many missing.

A commercial building collapsed to the west, trapping dozens and killing two.

These storms come without warning.

They are violent and relentless.

Life’s storms are similar.

One phone call, one diagnosis, one financial loss—your world can shift in an instant.

Romans 5:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Even in the storm,

Even when life seems chaotic,

Faith in God gives us peace and hope.

Preparing for Storms Spiritually

We prepare for natural storms with supplies—candles, batteries, water, and food.

But the storms of life cannot always be anticipated.

Those can strike like a thief in the night.

Just as Abraham, Job, and Joseph faced uncertainty, we are called to trust God in and through the unpredictable.

Romans 5:3–5 (NKJV) teaches: "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character;

and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Tribulations are not meaningless.

They produce perseverance, strengthen character, and deepen hope.

Every storm is an opportunity to grow in faith.

God Heals the Brokenhearted

Sometimes, These storms leave scars.

They can leave deep wounds.

But God is a healer. AMEN!

Psalm 147:3 (NKJV) says: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Hosea 6:1–2 (NKJV) says: "Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight."

Even when these storms do leave lasting marks, God restores.

Romans 5:10–11 (NKJV) reminds us: "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,

much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Lessons from Job

Lets look at Job

He lost everything: children, possessions, and health. Yet he declared

Job 13:15 NKJV

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Going back to Romans 5 we see it parallels this:

Romans 5:1–5 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So, justification produces peace; tribulation produces endurance; endurance produces character; character produces hope. Job’s faith was rewarded.

Job 42:12 NKJV

12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

Storms may break us, but it is perseverance in faith that brings restoration and blessing.

Joseph: Faith Through Betrayal

Remember, Joseph?

He was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and imprisoned.

And like his great grandfather Abraham before him, he trusted God to keeps His promises.

Chapter 4 tells reminds us of Abraham’s faith

Romans 4:19–21 NKJV

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Joseph’s trials produced endurance, character, and hope.

Eventually, God restored him above what he had lost.

Jesus Will Not Let You Drown

When the disciples were terrified in the storm and cried, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

Jesus responded with authority, not panic.

Life’s storms may threaten us, but Christ is our lifeline.

Romans chapter 5 shows us that peace with God and having access to His grace, anchors us in faith.

Especially when we cry out for help.

Every cry for help is seen by Him.

He will not let us drown.

In the storm we may struggle while on the boat, we may be tossed by waves, but Jesus always pulls us back into safety.

Jesus Calms the Storm

Matthew 8:26: "Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."

Jesus Christ has authority over nature

and over the storms inside our hearts.

Romans 5 teaches us that even suffering produces hope,

And the hope we have in Christ is unshakeable.

Like Abraham’s: unwavering faith

Like Job’s: steadfast hope

Like Joseph’s: trust in God’s timing

God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, producing hope that does not disappoint.

Faith anchors us, even when waves crash around us.

Reflection and Application

Consider these questions:

What storm are you facing today?

What waves are threatening to sink your boat?

What fear keeps you awake at night?

Bring it to Jesus.

Cry out.

Trust Him.

Wait on His timing.

Paul teaches that suffering has purpose: it strengthens hope, produces character, and deepens faith.

Conclusion: The Great Calm

Jesus didn’t die on the cross to let us perish in life’s storms.

He commands the winds and waves.

And Paul assures us that suffering produces perseverance and hope.

When the storms come, be like Abraham, Job, and Joseph.

Cry out to Jesus.

Trust Him.

And watch Him bring a great calm.

"Peace. Be still."

And There will be a great calm.

Invitation