Storm

Storm. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere. Fierce. Sudden. Unpredictable. 

The recent tornado in Tennessee roared through. In the middle of the night. Unexpected. Devastating.

Today COVID19 continues spreading across the globe at a rapid pace. Insidious. Unsettling. Unknown.

And traveling along under the radar, another kind of storm. Often unspoken. Filtering through conversations and across the airwaves. 

Fear. 

His disciples follow Him

The story of the storm in Matthew 8:23-27 involves some disciples of Jesus. Following Him into the boat.

Earlier, He’s given them the order to go to the other side of the sea. And a scribe comes to Him out of the multitude, declaring, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever You go.” 

Jesus challenges him. And any misconception that this will be easy. “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Another says, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Again. No easy choice. “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” At first, it rings a little harsh in our ears.

But today, all around the world, His followers make these kinds of choices. Counting the cost. To follow Him by faith. Walking into the boat. Going where He leads.

The storm hits

They’re sailing along when out of nowhere “a violent storm” arises. Some have called it an earthquake in the sea. A megastorm.

And the disciples, among them seasoned fishermen, are terrified. 

On this journey with the Lord, we may go through different kinds of storms. But we do go through them. Some are the slow-and-steady-build-up variety. Others take us by surprise. Turn our worlds upside down.

And no matter how seasoned we may be, we find ourselves not knowing what will happen. 

Fear grips the disciples. Sometimes fear grips us.

The Lord is with us

Back at sea, Jesus is in the boat. Asleep. 

The Son of Man—who has no place to lay His head—lays it on a cushion in the stern of the boat. (Mark 4:38)

Immanuel is His name. Literally, “God with us” is with them. In the boat. In the storm. 

They wake Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

In one of my journals during our first years in Karachi, I find the following words. My prayer from Psalm 30:9 during a storm of violence in our city.  “Lord, what gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?”

It was my “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!” prayer.

The question

And Jesus asks a question of His disciples. While the storm is still raging. The waves still swamping the boat.

“Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”

What’s translated “you of little faith,” I learn, is used only rarely. It’s like Jesus is calling them by the name “little faith.” 

“Hey, little faith, why are you afraid?” We need to hear this question. In the middle of the storm. 

He’s pointing out an opportunity. For those who follow Him. No matter what situation we find ourselves in. It’s an opportunity to trust Him.

No matter what.

His power displayed

Now Jesus gets up. Rebukes the winds. And the sea.

Matthew 18:26 says, “And there was a great calm.”

Then these disciples who went to their Master in the first place. And cried out, “Lord, save us. We’re going to die.” Stand amazed. 

I’m not sure what they thought He would do to save them. But this wasn’t it. This was unexpected. 

What kind of man is this?

 And they ask, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Perhaps all their lives they’ve remembered God’s deliverance and given thanks for His redemption by singing Psalm 107. 

The psalm recounts different ways people need His rescue. From the ones who’ve lost their way and are hungry and thirsty. To the prisoners and the foolish.

Who He is

But one section is particularly dear to those who travel the sea. Psalm 107:23-32.  I read of the stormy wind and violent waves in that passage. 

And this. “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”

What kind of man is this?

God. The all-powerful Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Lord of the wind and the waves.

Sovereign over storms.

A time is coming

The disciples don’t truly know Him yet at this point. But a time is coming when everything will change. Through the cross and the Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

They will experience what He meant in John 15. When He taught them to “abide in Me.” 

His presence is going to be with them not just in a boat during a megastorm. But dwelling in them through the Holy Spirit. Walking with them through everything.

Even in the storms that do not cease.

In the storm

Maybe you’ve found yourself in a storm. Felt like all hope was lost. Even when we’re abiding in Christ through prayer and the Word daily, we can get caught up in the wind and the waves. 

Fear can get a foothold. Take over. And He asks us. Reminds us, “What are you afraid of?” 

The lessons of learning to trust Him are present and ongoing. Necessary.

His presence

Remember my journal entry in Karachi? That heart cry from Psalm 30? I continued reading that day.  

In Psalm 31, I read about my rock and my fortress. My refuge and spacious place.

Then came verse 21. 

“Praise be to the Lord, for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.”

His tender compassion in that moment was overwhelming. Brought me to tears. His presence was with me. 

Even in the midst of the besieged city.

Prayer

Lord, in the midst of the storm, when fear threatens to take over. Teach us Who You are. Master of the wind and the waves. 

Mighty God. Prince of Peace. Wonderful Counselor. Everlasting Father.  

The One who provides all that we need for such a time as this.

What about you?

Have you struggled in the midst of a terrible storm? Wrestled with fear in a besieged city? Considered the cost of following Christ? How did the Lord encourage you?

Related posts

When I am afraid I will trust in You – Healing hurts and counting stars – On the way to thankfulness – Stability – Surrender and worship – Trust Me – Wounded – Be alert and pray – Makeshift altar – Reflect and trust – Abiding in Christ – Abiding with little and much –