How to Survive the Storms of Life
The old adage is true. If you are not facing a storm today, you’re coming out of one, or you’re heading into one. Such is life in this sinful, broken world. Often storms catch us off guard. Other times they completely halt our progress in the Christian life. The passage I want to share with you today will encourage you as you face the trials of life.
Jesus’ disciples found themselves in a storm. In Matthew 14, Jesus had sent them out on ahead of him across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus sent the crowds away (he had just feed the 5,000) and then spent the remainder of the evening in prayer. When they had traveled several miles from shore, the disciples found themselves stuck in the middle of a storm. The storm hindered their progress and even threatened their vessel. How could Jesus’ own disciples have ended up in such a predicament? Very simple. Jesus sent them! Often we have this idealized notion of Christian discipleship that is not found anywhere in Scripture. Following Jesus never promises to be an easy path.
It is in the middle of the storm that Jesus arrives. He comes in the most unusual way—walking on the water. The disciples were terrified at the sight and cried out in fear. Jesus tells them in Matthew 14:27 not to fear but to take courage. He identifies himself using terminology reminiscent of God’s conversation with Moses in Exodus 3 in which the Lord identifies himself as the I AM. Jesus’ words here are actually that. He isn’t saying: “Hey, guys, it’s me.” Jesus is identifying himself as God. He is also demonstrating this through his actions. Job 9:8 tells us that God alone treads on the waves of the sea. By walking on the water Jesus was communicating His mastery as Creator over His creation.
Upon hearing Jesus’ words, Peter asks Jesus to command him to come out on the water with him. Jesus grants his request and Peter steps out of the boat and into the raging storm. As he walks toward Jesus Peter gets distracted by the wind and waves and begins to drown. In desperation, Peter cries out to Jesus for help with a simple plea: “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30). Immediately, Jesus pulls him out of the depths. After pointing out the foolishness of Peter’s doubt, Jesus and Peter get into the boat with the rest of the disciples and the storm ceases. The disciples are in awe of all they have seen and they worship Jesus by confessing: “You are certainly God’s Son” (Matthew 14:33).
Even in the storm they could worship if they kept their eyes on Jesus. That’s where worship begins—keeping our eyes on Jesus. Big or small, the storms of life take our focus off of Christ. Matthew 14 shows us that anything that is over our head is still under His feet. We must continually determine to keep our focus on Christ. Don’t overcomplicate this. When Peter was overcome by the storm his prayer was simple: “Lord save me!” He took his problem and situation to Jesus. That’s how we give Jesus our focus, by giving him the problems and storms that threaten to overcome us. With Christ, we can stand firm. “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).
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