Weathering the Storm

Matthew 8:24-26 (NIV)

24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26He 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.

I love this account of the storm in Matthew. It gives us such a great example of how we should react to the storms that come up in our lives, like this financial crisis we are heading into in America.

Can you imagine the disciples conversation in that boat as the wind whipped up and the waves started growing and Jesus slept calmly and peacefully through it all?

Now, rest assured, Jesus wasn't "sleeping on the job". He slept peacefully because He knew the storm, like all things, were completely under His control and there was nothing to fear because of that. He knew all He had to do was command the storm to stop and it would.

The disciples should have followed Jesus' example and relaxed and, yes, slept and let the storm rage around them because the One who controls everything was with them and would not allow the storm to harm them. Think of this, what good would it do in the spreading of the Gospel had Jesus allowed his disciples to be swept out to sea and drowned? First, there would have been no one to actually spread the Gospel and Jesus would have had to pick more men. Also, we would not have this great example of how we are protected by our great and loving LORD and Savior during the storms of life.

Keep this account in mind when a storm comes up in your life, whether it involves money, family, your job or your marriage or anything that causes the wind and the rain to be whipped up in your life. Instead of worrying about the storm, as a Christ follower, realize you have the One who controls everything right there in the boat with you and He will not allow the storm to harm you. Yes, you might get tossed to and fro by the wind and the rain, but the boat will stay afloat and you'll make it to the other side intact so that you can spread the good news that Jesus is your shield in times of trouble.