Do you ever feel powerless in the storms of life? Does life ever feel unbearable?
There may be periods in life when a storm comes upon us. Perhaps your storm is financial. Perhaps it is relational. Or perhaps it is an internal struggle that no one knows about. Regardless, peace seems no where to be found. Everything is out of control. We feel powerless. We are drowning and it seems that God doesn’t care about our misery or circumstances.
Where do you turn when a storm comes your way? In these times, the temptation is to use our own efforts to keep our boat afloat. But this is the wrong approach to take. Recall the account of the disciples in a storm with Jesus. Matthew 8:23-27:
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
What lessons can be learned from this passage?
- It can often feel like God has abandoned us. God seems to be oblivious to our circumstances, sleeping. But the reality is that He is near. He is sitting in our boat! Do you believe this? The Lord is at hand (Philippians 4:4-7). Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is in complete control of this world. Even in the storm, God upholds the world by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3).
- Jesus is pleased to reveal himself to us. His primary concern is that we encounter the Prince of Peace, not in giving us a comfortable life. If we are children of God, God promises to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). God’s greater good includes us coming to know God’s power and love for us more deeply (Ephesians 3:14-19) and our sanctification (Romans 8:29). This does not guarantee a storm free life. Rather, God will send us storms to accomplish His greater good. May we find that we are miserable without Jesus.
- Only Jesus can save us. After the disciples pleaded with Jesus to save them, He gave them the grace they needed. The disciples went to Jesus and said, “Lord, save us!” Jesus was glad to answer that request and meet them in their need. Have you called out to Jesus recently? Only when we turn to Him for grace and mercy can we know true peace. Jesus, the Prince of Peace reveals that the source of true peace is found in Him.
To whom else shall we go? Psalm 73 says it well:
Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
God promises to give His children the grace they need to endure their trials.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12: 9-11
By God’s grace, may we come quickly to an end of ourselves when we face a storm and cry, “Lord, save us!” May His power show forth in our weakness as he meets our needs, so that He gets all the glory.
photo credit: davedehetre via photopin cc
