Lessons from the Storm

Introduction

There are often times of life when we find ourselves in the midst of a stormy season. Yet we can be assured that the storms of life are not without purpose and that God desires that we would learn some things in theses turbulent times.

As we find ourselves in the midst of some tumultuous times in our country, be assured God will teach us some valuable lessons in the midst of the storm if we will continue to follow Him.

It is important that we first recognize that the disciples were in the midst of this storm precisely because they were following Jesus and had obeyed his commands.

Jesus had instructed them to get into the boat to make the journey across the sea and they were simply following instructions. Following Jesus does not mean that we will be free from trouble or turbulence in our lives.

The disciples knew that it was possible that they would encounter storms upon the sea for they had likely encountered them before but maybe they expected that with Jesus in the boat they were in for smooth sailing.

It is vitally important that we are following Jesus and obeying His instructions wherever the path may lead.

When the path leads us into the midst of the storm what is it that God would have us learn?

The first thing that we must learn is that:

Some Circumstances Are Beyond Our Control

The disciples followed the instructions they had received from Jesus and entered into the ship to sail across the sea of Galilee. Jesus entered into the ship with them weary from the strain of a full day of ministry and he immediately lay down to sleep.

As Jesus slept a violent storm arose upon the sea and it seemed the waves and the winds might overwhelm the ship.

The disciples must have been frantically attempting to do all that they could to keep the ship afloat and to save their own lives. Yet ultimately they must have realized the circumstances were beyond their control.

You and I must also learn this valuable lesson if we are to have peace in the midst of the storms of life. There will most definitely be times in our lives where the circumstances that we are facing are beyond our control.

The election process- we have cast our vote but the outcome of the election is ultimately beyond our control. There is nothing further that you and I can do.

It is often difficult for us to admit that things are beyond our control but we must learn to do so because when we recognize things are out of our hands we can then take them and place them in God’s hands.

The disciples try as they may were not capable on their own of keeping the ship afloat or of causing the winds and the waves to cease. Once they realized this they turned to Jesus for help.

God will often allow us to be overwhelmed to cause us to look unto Him for help and deliverance.

When we recognize that circumstances are beyond our control we must learn to:

Turn to Jesus

As the ship was battered and beaten with the winds and the waves, Jesus remained asleep until the frantic disciples came to Him and awoke Him from sleep.

There may be many criticisms that could be made of the disciples and their response to the storm but one thing that is certainly to be commended is the fact that in the midst of the crisis they knew where to turn.

You and I will face crisis moments in our lives and we must learn that when we are overwhelmed and it seems the circumstances are out of our hands, it is then that we need to turn to Jesus.

The disciples were gripped with fear and their minds were filled with uncertainty and they were convinced that they would not make it through the storm (even though Jesus had said let us go over unto the other side).

Matthew 8:25 KJV 1900

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Mark 4:38 KJV 1900

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Through these various records in scripture we can begin to grasp the mindset of the disciples. They could not believe that Jesus was still sleeping while their lives were jeopardized by this storm. They questioned whether or not Jesus even cared about their situation.

While in the midst of the storms of life we may have doubts and fears and we may be filled with anxiety and doubts, but the best thing we can do is simply go directly to Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus does care and it is precisely because of his care that He allows us to go through storms. One of the purposes of the storms is to cause us to turn to Jesus!

The storms of life teach us that we are not in control and cause us to turn to Jesus so that ultimately we might:

Appreciate the Power of God

The disciples to this point had already witnessed Jesus do some miraculous things such as restoring sight to the blind, the lame made to walk, lepers cleansed, and even the restoration to life of a young boy who was dead.

They knew that Jesus had supernatural power but what Jesus was about to do in the midst of the storm left them awestruck.

When Jesus was awakened, He rebuked the wind and the waves and there was an instant calm upon the waters and in the ship.

The disciples marveled at what Jesus had just done and struggled to believe what they had just witnessed. The true nature of Jesus’s power was now recognized by the disciples.

Sometimes God allows us to endure storms so that we may learn to appreciate His power over the storm.

The wonderful truth is that there is no storm, no trial, no difficulty that God is unable to overcome! The winds and the waves had not choice but to obey His voice and the same is true of all creation.

God remains sovereignly in control of all things and we need not fear for nothing is ever beyond His power to control. God is not limited by circumstances or outcomes. He has the power to accomplish His will in spite of unfavorable circumstances and seemingly negative outcomes.

The question that must be asked is “Do we believe God is omnipotent?” If we do then we need not fear though circumstances seem bleak and though the opposition seems insurmountable.

As we look ahead to the future, whatever the outcome of the presidential election God is still omnipotent and He is not limited in what He is able to do.

It may be that God displays His power by bringing about a favorable outcome in the election but it may also be that God displays His power by doing a supernatural work in our nation in spite of an unfavorable outcome.

Conclusion

Notice the question that Jesus asked of His disciples “Where is your faith?”

Mark 4:40 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Matthew 8:26 KJV 1900

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

There are two simple truths that we must grasp as we face these tumultuous times. We must continue to follow Jesus and we must continue to have faith in God that His will shall ultimately be fulfilled.

Hebrews 13:5–6 KJV 1900

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

He has promised that He will not leave or forsake us so we need not fear or be anxious for He is still in control and He will help and strengthen us such that we can continue to follow Jesus no matter what the future holds.