Through the Storm

So, there is this story in scripture where Jesus tells His disciples that they are going to go to the other side of a lake (Luke 8:22-25). The lake in this passage is the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and His disciples get on a boat and set sail. Jesus goes below deck and goes to sleep. His disciples (many of which where fishermen) were up on deck taking care of the task of sailing and navigation.

While Jesus was sleeping a huge storm came upon the Sea. These storms are known to be so violent that small ships caught out in them were capsized and sunk by the ferocity. I remember a professor I had, who owned a home in Israel, telling our class that these storms could produce 30 foot swells.

"Such storms result from differences in temperatures between the seacoast and the mountains beyond. The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the east side where they reach 2000 feet high. These heights are a source of cool, dry air."

"In contrast, directly around the sea, the climate is semi-tropical with warm, moist air. The large difference in height between surrounding land and the sea causes large temperature and pressure changes. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills."

"The Sea of Galilee is small, and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with violent results. When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without warning. Small boats caught out on the sea are in immediate danger." www.christiananswers.net

When this storm came up these disciples began to panic. They couldn't conceive how they would survive, yet Jesus slept peacefully. In their moment of fear and weakness they abandoned the rigging,the rutter, and the sails. They went below deck a woke up Jesus.

These guys had abandoned hope. We see this in their words to the Lord, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" or as Matthew records it, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

Like these guys so many of us get caught up in the storms of life. They seem to overwhelm us as wave after wave crashes over us threatening to sink our ship. We may feel as though God has abandoned us, that he doesn't care that we are going to drowned.

In our panic, weakness and desperation we call out to Him like the psalmist, "Listen to my prayer, O God,do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me." Psalm 55:1-5

The beauty of this story isn't the sheer desperation of these men, it isn't the panic, it isn't the storm. LIFE IS FULL OF STORMS. The beauty is that the Lord was with them in the storm. Jesus wasn't worried because He had already told them the outcome of the trip. In Luke 8:22 Jesus had told them, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." He wasn't worried about the storm because He knew it wasn't going to stop them.

After waking Jesus, He got up and walked up on deck and rebuked the wind and the waves and they became still. The Bible says, "...ALL WAS CALM." The Storm was calm, the wind was calm, the disciples were calm, Jesus was calm!

Jesus then questioned His disciples, "Where is your faith?" I can see it now... Guys, don't you understand, I will never leave you or forsake you. Storms will come and go, sometimes you won't see a way out but I have already declared the outcome, "You win." Trust me, I am the good shepherd, I will surrender my life for you and you will still make it to the other side.

The fact is that many times God allows us to go through storms because it is during these turbulent, uncertain times of our lives that we develop character. It is when things get tough that we are faced with the depth of who and what we are. It is during these times that we find out what we are made of.

Whatever storm you are facing right now, remember this. You are not alone, God is right there, He is cheering you on as a Father watching His son on the ball field. "you can do it! Your my child and I made you to be victorious! I have trained you with hours of practice, now give it your All. I love you and I am right here with you. Just trust me."

Jesus died for your sins and He conquered the grave to give you VICTORY!