Many of us would have experienced challenges in life where we are pinned against wall with troubles / challenges coming against us, you may have encountered a situation that you have no control over it. This we call as storms of life. I am sure each of us have experienced different categories of storms in life, some challenges we face in daily life may be like a passing rain - short burst get better after some time, some category 3/4 - windy storm that lasts for few days and clears it, some go thru wild challenges of Category 1 / 2 storms which changes their life’s where they go thru persistent challenges in life for many months / years before it gets better.
This happens to all people (Christians / non-Christians), but the perspective of every challenge or storm of life depends on how we see each of them. Many of us who pray regularly or call ourselves Christians may say - Why God only for me? What did I do, why did you give me this storm of life? Some may say, I trusted you, but you let me down God, are you really the God who I am worshiping? are you not listening to my prayers? Yes ,all these frustrations there are when you don’t know Jesus in depth and don’t understand him.
I did learn Matt 8: 23-27, we can learn a great deal from this storm where Jesus was mist of disciples and how we can apply to our daily life’s.
1. Expect the un-expected (Verse 23 – 24)
'When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 'Matthew 8:18-19
'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. ' Matthew 8:23-24
First, we learn they followed him, this starts from the context of Verse 18 and it comes to Verse 23 “'Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him”
Second, we learn “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake”, remember all these disciples were experienced fishermen, I am sure some of them may be able to tell in advance the weather pattern just by looking at sky to wait or start now, but they were caught suddenly “Suddenly a furious storm came”
Lessons to learn
There's a great spiritual lesson for us in this. We shouldn't ever think that, just because we're following Jesus, we have a right to expect to be exempt from the storms of life. Those storms may come - even though we are following Jesus very faithfully. Jesus could have prevented the storm from coming at them, but he led them right into a storm.
Now why would Jesus allow this storm? We need to keep in mind that Jesus has greater things in mind for his followers than they have for themselves. Many times, we think we must have a comfortable ride when he is around us.
But Jesus knows that, as His followers in training (every day in world), we need to get caught in some storms now and then - all so that we can learn some new truth about him in a practical way. He knows just the right time for us to enter a storm; and He knows just what we need to learn from that storm to trust Him even more. As apostle James has taught us 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ' James 1:2-3
So, here's a first principle: Learn to expect the unexpected, as you follow Jesus, the storms will come. They come for a very good purpose; so that we will learn something new about our great Saviour’s love and power toward us!
2. Present but Asleep (Verse 24b)
‘Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ' Matthew 8:24
How could someone sleep when they were in a storm when the boat getting tossed around the wind, that to without any panic? I am sure no human person can do that, but Only Jesus can do that, because he knows what is present / what is yet to come after the storm.
Lessons to learn:
When we go through a storm, it may seem as if the Lord isn't aware of it. It may seem as if he was "asleep". But we can be sure that he is not asleep. He never sleeps on us, if it appears that he does, it's only meant to test our faith in Him. Psalm 121 says 'He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. ' Psalms 121:3-4
When you are amid the storm, just remember Jesus is there too - during the storm with you. His apparent "silence" is to see if you will trust Him and have confidence in Him.
In fact, did you know that He offers us His own peace during that storm of life? Paul tells us, " 'And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ' Philippians 4:7
3. Cry out to him (Verse 25)
'The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” ' Matthew 8:25
The disciples certainly did the best thing they could do. “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Lesson to Learn
Look at the disciple’s simple prayer “Lord”, “save us”, “we are going to drown” we are helpless, don’t pray with fancy words pray simple, with a SOS call for help from Lord and saviour.
When we're amid the storms of life, the perfect thing to do is to cry out to Jesus. Must “awaken" him with our prayers. And it certainly doesn't have to be a flowery or detailed prayer, either. What He wants from us is our hearts to call with him in a sense of helpless tone.
David writes, he hears our cry, when we express thru prayer in a time of trial - He responds. 'and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.” 'Psalms 50:15
4. He may first wish to rebuke us for lack of faith (Verse 26a)
'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. ' Matthew 8:26
Jesus did not calm the storm first, he questioned the disciples on the lack of faith ““You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Jesus performing miracles / being with them, still they did not really understand who he was.
Lesson to Learn
Many times, we are like disciples, we forget his promises that he has for us and panic, yes that’s natural because the human nature in us takes more dominance over the faith we have
As Paul explains in Philippians - 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ' Philippians 4:4-6
5. “Great Storm” to “Great Clam” (Verse 26b)
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. ' Matthew 8:26
The Bible tells us, " Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves...” Now, just imagine that! he actually "scolded" the weather and the water! Ordinarily, that would seem crazy - to personalize wind and waves and talk to them! But the results speak for themselves; because we're told, “and it was completely calm”
Lesson to Learn
Remember all the things are created for him 'The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ' Colossians 1:15-17
He proved this when he was in the storm with his disciples. He can do the same for us during the storms we experience in life. The storm is always under his control, if he so commands, to turn it from a great tempest into a great calm.
All things are created for him, so the situation in our life also he has command to change.
6. After the Storm (Verse 27)
'The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” ' Matthew 8:27
Just imagine how it must have been like in that boat after the great calm fell upon them.
We're told by Matthew that the disciples were "amazed" at what had just happened. When we look at the other Gospels, we find that it's even more profound. We find that, according to Mark, they "feared exceedingly" (Mark 4:41); and that, according to Luke, "they were afraid" (Luke 8:25).
Outside the boat, at the command of Jesus, a great tempest had been replaced by a great calm; and as a result, inside the disciples, "cowardliness" had been replaced by "reverent fear"
Lessons to Learn
When we trust Jesus to see us through the storms of life, He takes us through to the other side and shows us more of who he really is. And as a result - if we truly learn what He seeks to teach us through the storms of life
We come away more in love with Him, and more in awe of Him, and more surrendered to Him.
The reverence we have with him increases after the storm - 'The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord .' Psalms 107:42-43
Whatever storms you may have in life or what you may be going thru, call out on these 6 principles, he will surely help you only if you have faith in him. Outside him there is no one who can help you. Trust our lord, he never leaves us nor forsakes anyone who trusts him.
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