4 Comforting Lessons from the Account of Jesus Calming the Storm
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Imagine being stuck in the middle of a storm in the middle of the night, with no GPS, no cell phone, and no lifeboat. You see the boat filling with water and you start to panic, understanding that this will likely be your last moments alive. Fear is the most natural response to this kind of terrifying experience.
This is the situation that Jesus’ disciples found themselves in. There was no chance of rescue outside of a miracle and the waves and wind would not relent. In Matthew 8:23-24 we read, “Jesus got into a boat, and His followers went with Him. A great storm arose on the lake so that the waves began to sink the boat.” The Greek word for this storm is seismos which paints the picture of a very serious storm.
Maybe you can relate to the situation the disciples found themselves in! These men followed Jesus into a boat onto the water, believing that with him they would be safe, but all of a sudden they found their lives to be in danger! Have you followed Jesus into the unknown, believing he would protect you and keep your life free of storms, until you were surprised to find that tribulations are still a part of your story?
Oftentimes we mistake God’s promise of eternal salvation with a ticket to a trial-free life in the here and now. We might be surprised to learn that the Bible actually teaches that in this life we will experience suffering (John 16:33). The disciples were also surprised to be stuck in a tempest while their leader took a nap (Matthew 8:24). Thankfully we can learn from this account how to cling to Jesus in the storm.
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1. Remember a Storm Doesn’t Mean You’ve Made a Wrong Turn
There is a prosperity gospel that is common in the United States that teaches that the best way to know if we are doing the right thing is to count how blessed we are. Trials, tribulations, and temptations are signs of disobedience. While that does simplify things for us, making the path to the Christian “good life” feel clear, it’s actually not a biblical idea.
Maybe at the start of Jesus’ ministry these disciples may have believed following Jesus would have brought them earthly power and influence, but after Jesus’ death and resurrection each of these men went on to give their lives for the sake of spreading the good news. They realized through moments like this stormy boat ride that following Jesus was about more than gaining earthly comforts; it was about dying to themselves for the sake of their Savior.
This truth is so helpful to cling to when we walk through our own storms of life that oftentimes show up after we’ve followed Jesus into an uncomfortable place in order to serve his Kingdom. Trials are not a sign that we’ve taken a wrong turn! These moments are an invitation to trust the one who controls the winds and the waves.
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2. The Storm Is a Lesson
This tense moment was a chance for the disciples to see more of the character of Christ. The word seismos is used three times in the Gospels. First, it is used here to describe this fear-inducing storm where Jesus is teaching his disciples that he is able to defeat their (and our) fears. Next, it is used when Jesus is on the cross, as the earth shook and tore the veil in the Temple (Matthew 27:51). Finally, it is used at Jesus’ resurrection, when an earthquake moved the rock at the tomb (Matthew 28:2). Jesus defeated sin!
Jesus is unphased by the tempest. We read that Jesus is asleep until the men cry out “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25). Only then does he wake up and rebuke the wind and the waves, as well as the men for their lack of faith. The disciples leave this interaction seeing first that Jesus has power over even the natural forces of this earth. Their master was more than they could have even imagined. Jesus did not experience fear the way they did and he challenged his followers to believe bigger!
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3. God Calls Us to Overcome Our Fear
Jesus tells his disciples a recorded 125 times not to fear! First, it’s pretty comforting that the men that got to walk and talk to Jesus battled the same fear and anxiety that we do now. Despite seeing Jesus do innumerable miracles, their faith still needed to be encouraged. Doubt was just as pervasive as their belief, but they made the choice to remain close to Jesus even as they wrestled through their questions and anxieties.
As we walk with Jesus, there will be moments that we are afraid and we doubt his goodness. Every great leader of the faith has faced doubts and discouragement. We are not defined by our fears but the choices we make in response to them. While the disciples were terrified in this storm, they did call out to Jesus, and he saved them.
When we don’t choose faith and lean into our fear, we see negative fruit grow in our lives. We find ourselves seeking more and more control. We grow less grateful and able to remember God’s faithful provision in our lives, and fear eventually steals our joy leaving us stuck.
The invitation that Jesus extends to his disciples is to radically let go of fears that rule over their lives! And boy did they need to learn this lesson in order to go out and share the gospel in the years after Jesus’ death. Their bravery built God’s church! Without a faith that overcame fear they would not have been able to see God do such great things through their lives.
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4. We Are Not Alone in the Storm
In this Christian life it is not the absence of storms that defines us, it's who we observe in the storm. In this wild tempest, they cried out to the unstirred Christ who responded with power and grace. He is our calm when all we can see is chaos around us. He is not and was not fazed by the threat.
In psychology there is a phenomenon called co-regulation where we feel the distress of others when we are comforting them and then help that person learn how to regulate their minds and bodies. When we calm a crying baby, we personally feel stressed at their distress and as we hold them close, we are physically teaching our child how to grow calm.
As believers, God promises something similar as we face trials and tribulations. The Scriptures paint a picture of a God who walks with us and before us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Of his protective, mothering power that covers us like a hen covers its chicks with its feathers (Psalm 91:4). Of a God that has our names tattooed on his hands (Isaiah 49:16) and holds us with his right hand (Isaiah 41:13). He is with us and gives us what we need for every circumstance we may face in this life.
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