“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 4:8
Dear Believer,
Have you ever been in a circumstance that felt so overwhelming that you thought you might not make it? A situation which felt so out of your control, that it felt like a flood spreading over you with no solution in sight? The disciples felt the same way in Mathew 8:23-27. After spending time with Jesus and witnessing him teach with authority, heal the sick and oppressed, and cast out demons, they finally take a little break and get on their fishing boat.
“Behold, a great storm…”
I don’t know what the disciples were thinking, but perhaps they thought they would take a little rest from the busyness of the preceding activities with Jesus. Perhaps they were looking forward to having some quiet time with the teacher. What they were met with was “Behold, a great storm…” An unexpected and violent disturbance in the atmosphere that was considerably above normal in extent, amount, or intensity1. As we walk through life, there sometimes seems to be a great storm that suddenly arises out of nowhere.
“The boat was being swamped by the waves”
The little boat was being inundated. So much so that the disciples believed they would actually die. Have you been in a situation that seemed so intense, so hurtful, painful, or scary, that you felt like you could not go on? Some experiences truly are life-changing. We get scared, flooded, and lost. This is how the disciples and King David felt when he wrote:
“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
Psalm 69:1-3
So many times that is our human experience. We feel like we are literally drowning in our problems. But the best part of the story is coming. In their desperation, the disciples go to Jesus. However, they see that while this storm is raging, he is sleeping.
“But, he was asleep”.
What a contrast between the outward violent circumstance and Jesus! How can this be? Jesus was asleep amidst a circumstance so hard that it made the disciples think they were going to die. But, he was asleep. He was resting, unaffected by the external disturbance. When he awakes, Jesus reminds them, “Why are you afraid? O you of little faith?” Did they not realize who was in the boat with them? It is said that faith is confidence in God’s character and what He has promised. Did they forget who was their refuge and shelter? In that moment of intense fear, their faith, trust, and confidence, faltered. Can you relate? I know I can. Still, in our fear, confusion, and chaos, we must go to Jesus.
“There was a great calm”
Then, when Jesus arose to reprimand and correct the waves, “…there was a great calm”. The storm was out of control, causing stress and anxiety. But now a great calm. This great calm was an external expression of Jesus’ inward condition. He is that great calm. He was so calm and peaceful in the hands of his Father, that he was asleep. He was secure in the Father’s hands when everything around him was crazy. The disciples, after witnessing this ask, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Not only were they witnessing Jesus’ trust in the Father, but they were seeing Jesus express his deity. They had just seen that he had authority over illness, oppression, and spirits. Now they were seeing not only the authority over these but over all of creation. Jesus is showing he is God. He is in control of all he has made. He is the Creator. He was the One who was said in the Psalms,
“O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waters rise, you still them.”
Psalm 89:8-9
They had God in the boat. When we are in the middle of life’s storms do we behave like the disciples? Experiencing God’s power in our lives, yet continually giving in to fear at the first sight of dark clouds? Or do we behave as if Jesus is in our boat? In our circumstances? Do we express that great calm believing that God is in control? Or do we say, “Lord, I’m dying here! Do you not care that I am sinking?”? Let us pray to have faith in who our God is and in what He says. He is our refuge, shield, and strength. He is our Ark of safety that will keep us from sinking. Let us remember this when we are in the great storms of life. (Or even the sprinkles). Let us keep praying for our unbelief to turn to complete trust. Jesus, our God and our Prince of Peace is in our boat. In control, over all.
“Sovereign Commander of the universe,
I am sadly harassed by doubts, fears, unbelief,
in a felt spiritual darkness. My heart is full of evil surmising and disquietude,
and I cannot act faith at all.
My heavenly pilot has disappeared and I have lost my hold on the rock of ages;
I sink in deep mire beneath storms and waves and horror and distress unutterable.
Help me O Lord, to throw myself absolutely and wholly on Thee,
for better, for worse, without comfort, and all but hopeless.
Give me peace of soul, confidence, enlargement of mind, morning joy that comes after night heaviness…
Fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales may ruffle the calm surface of my soul.2
The Lord be with you,
Bianca
