Jesus In the Storms

Jesus Sent the Disciples Into the Storm

After Jesus had fed the 5000 men and their families they were going across to the other side of the of the sea. Jesus sent them and did not get in the boat with them. Jesus knew that a storm was going to arise, but he them sent them anyways. Why did he do this? He wanted them to grow in their faith. They had gotten use to Jesus being with them and He was with them to fix the issues of life. Jesus wanted them to face adversity without Him in their presence.

Jesus sends us into storms.

We must understand that the environment that Jesus sent his disciples into is the same environment that He has sent his church into. The Bible says “darkness had already set in”. Contrary to popular belief, we do not live in a world that is safe and full of goodness. We live in a world that is full of darkness. There are very few places that you can walk around at night safely. We now have to lock our car doors and homes every night before we go to bed. Why do we have to do this? Because we live in a world of darkness and must protect ourselves.

There will be times when these storms are personal. Christ may allow circumstances to come into your life that are quite frightful. They can come in personal tragedy, loss of a job, terminal diagnosis, broken marriage, or rebellious child. The list goes on. The Christian life does not guarantee that you are immune to the darkness of the world. As a matter of fact Jesus often sends us into the darkness. People often say, “I am a good person and I go to church and follow Jesus, so why is this happening to me?” Could it be that Jesus has chosen this storm for you?

Storms of life are meant to test our faith, not destroy us. It is who you turn to that will determine the outcome. It is in the storms of life that the reality that there are some things we can’t fix drive us to go beyond ourselves. It is in this place that you will look to life or death.

Victor Hugo, who is famous for his novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, also so wrote a story called “Ninety-Three.” It tells of a ship caught in a dangerous storm on the high seas. At the height of the storm, the frightened sailors heard a terrible crashing noise below the deck. They knew at once that this new noise came from a cannon, a part of the ship’s cargo, which had broken loose. It was moving back and forth with the swaying of the ship, crashing into the side of the ship with terrible impact. Knowing that it could cause the ship to sink, two brave sailors volunteered to make the dangerous attempt to retie the loose cannon. They knew the danger of a shipwreck from the cannon was greater than the fury of the storm.

That is like human life. Storms of life may blow about us, but it is not these exterior storms that pose the greatest danger. It is the terrible corruption that can exist within us which can overwhelm us. The furious storm outside may be overwhelming but what is going on inside can pose the greater threat to our lives. Our only hope lies in conquering that wild enemy. (sermons.com)

We cannot cure the storm that rages within us. It takes the power of God’s love, as revealed in Christ Jesus. It is only as the character of Christ is formed within that we have any hope of stilling the raging tempest that can harm our souls and shipwreck our lives.

In the storms of life you can sink in hopelessness and despair or be saved by the power of the victory of Christ in your life.

Silence in the storm

The disciples had rowed for several hours and didn’t seem to get anywhere. the Bible says that they only went three or four miles. Though they were giving it all they could they were struggling to get to their destination. They were tired and fearful, yet they continued to row. They knew that if they could get to Jesus, they would be alright.

The Bible says Jesus had not come to them yet. They were all alone and left to traverse the violent storm alone. Though they were alone they did not give up. They continued on the Journey that Jesus had set them on. I’m sure they had doubts and wondered if they were going to make it.

Sometimes we can feel like the disciples in our storms. We do everything that we know to do but nothing seems to be getting better. We pray and do all we know to do, and nothing seems to be happening. Perhaps you feel as if Jesus is not aware of what’s going on or if He does, he doesn’t care. Neither one of these is true. When Jesus does not seem present, keep rowing and going on the course that He has set for you. Eventually, He will come to you!

Faith In the Storm

When the the storm raged and the disciples thought that it was going to be the end for them, Jesus showed up. He appeared to them in a way that was not natural. He walked on the sea. The disciples were fearful of even this. It wasn’t until Jesus said “It is I. Do not be afraid.”, that the disciples were willing to take Him on board.

Did you recognize what just happened? It was when the disciples believed Jesus for who He said He was that they reached their destination. It was the words of Jesus that comforted their fears.

How do we have faith in the storm?

Andrew Murray was going through a personal trial. One morning while he was eating breakfast, his hostess told him there was a woman downstairs that was going through a great trial and wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Murray handed her a piece of paper he had been writing on and said, “Give her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.”

“In time of trouble say,

‘First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.’

Next, ‘He will keep me here in His live, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.’ Then say, ‘He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.’

And last, say, ‘In His good time He can bring me out again. How and when, He knows.’ Therefore I say, ‘I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.’”

Understand that God has us where we are for a reason. God does not waste storms in our lives. They are meant for our good and His glory. The story of Job is the epitome of this. God had significant storms in His life so that He would experience God in a deeper more meaningful way. “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Job 42:5 Job saw God by what he went through. Also, God was glorified in the fact that Job never turned His back on God, so proving that His servants faith was greater than the storm he allowed Satan to put Him in

Understand that we are never alone. Though the Disciples were not in the presence of Jesus, He was on the mountain watching them. This is the same way with us in our storms. It may not seem like He is physically with us, but He is on the mountain watching. Have faith that He is coming.

Understand that we are in training. Storms are always meant to deepen our faith in Jesus. We realize that He cares and shows up when we have learned to trust in Him.

Victory In The Storm

The disciples were spared and learned a deeper faith in trust in Jesus as a result of going through the storm. Storms are meant to make us stronger and not destroy us. It is something that John remembered and wanted us to know about. When we face storms look for Jesus because He is coming.