Peace in the Midst of the Storm
Matthew 8:23-27 [TPT], They [speaking of Jesus and His disciples] all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. 24 Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. 25 The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die! [Mark 4:38 says, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”] 26 But Jesus reprimanded them. [by saying…] “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then He stood up and rebuked the storm and said, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm. 27 The disciples were astonished by this miracle and said to one another, “Who is this Man? Even the wind and waves obey His Word.” <—I don’t know about you, but I believe this passage is more than APPLICABLE to our current circumstance.
Think about it for a moment…
If we backtrack a few verses, the Bible tells us in verse 16, “That evening the people brought to Jesus many who were demonized. And by Jesus only speaking a word of healing over them, they were totally set free from their torment, and everyone who was sick received their healing!”
Then it says in verse 18, “At the sight of large crowds gathering around Him, Jesus gave orders to His disciples to get ready to sail back over to the other side of the lake.”
But then the Bible says everything CHANGED…not over a long period of time, but “Suddenly”…when out of nowhere, without warning, an unexpected life-threatening “violent storm” came upon them.
Question: So how did they respond to this “unexpected storm” in their life?
Before we allow FEAR to overwhelm us…let’s remember what Jesus was doing in the boat in the midst of the storm.
Matthew 8:24-25 [TPT], Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. 25 The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die! [“don’t You care that we are going to die”]
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your care [anxiety, the things that are causing your mind to be divided, worries and doubt] upon Him, [WHY?] for He cares for YOU.”
Question: So if Jesus wasn’t demonstrating a “lack of care” for their well being by SLEEPING, “What was He doing?”
Answer: I personally believe He was demonstrating [or giving us an example] of what it looks like to have PEACE in the midst of a storm [When He stood up and said, "Peace be still" to the storm...all He did was RELEASE what was inside of Him.].
Philippians 4:6-7 [TPT], Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ [God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.].
Question: If this is true, then we need to ask, “Where does our PEACE come from?”
Matthew 8:26 [TPT], But Jesus reprimanded [rebuked] them. [by saying…] “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?”
Answer: When we stop long enough to remind ourselves that we should put our unwavering trust in the fact that “God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He said He would do”…HIS PERFECT PEACE WILL FILL OUR HEARTS!
The first truth we need to remember is…
1. God has power over every storm
2. Fixing our eyes on Jesus it will lead to peace
John 16:33 [TPT], “…everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous [cheer up…why?], for I have conquered the world!”
3. Jesus is always in our boat
Hebrews 13:5 [AMP], …for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstance] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
Romans 15:13, I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.