And he said to them, “Why
are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and
the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:26 ESV)
I’ve been on the Sea of Galilee. It’s not as big as I thought and more like a
lake in our terms. But even a lake in a bad storm can be terrifying. Whether
you’re in a boat on a lake or a car on a winding road, a storm changes
everything. Fear has a way of shrinking your perspective.
Here in Matthew 8, the disciples are crossing the lake when a squall blows in.
Fear rises. Courage falls. The many miracles of the day—healings, demons cast
out, lepers cleansed—have faded from memory as the reality of current tempest
blows in. And where is the Miracle Worker? He’s asleep.
Exhausted from ministry, compassion expended, Jesus grabs a nap. How does the
Son of God sleep through a storm? The waves, the rocking, the wind, the
scrambling disciples - none of it appears to bother Jesus. So they wake Him,
“Lord save us! We are perishing!”
Some of you are facing stormy waters today. There are the winds of change on
the job. The pelting rain of relationship troubles at home. The sunless sky and
clouds of anxiety are rolling. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re
asking, “Jesus, don’t You see this? Do You care?”
It helps me to picture this scene and remember, “If this ship goes down, Jesus
is going down with me because He’s in the boat.” He isn’t alarmed. He isn’t
even surprised. He only challenges us by saying, “Why are you fearful, O you of
little faith?” He may arise at this moment and calm the storm as you cry out to
Him. Or He may calm you by reminding you, “I’m in this with you. Don’t be
afraid.”
Prayer: Lord, help me
because my perspective is limited. My eyes focus on the storm. You see it all
and You are never alarmed, surprised or devastated. Give me Your peace today. I
will cast my anxieties on You. Will you calm the storm within me? O Lord of
every storm, at whose command winds will cease and skies will clear, thank You
that You are in this with me.
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