We find a group of men that really were in a perilous situation. They were in a boat and all of a sudden they found themselves in the midst of a terrible storm. The account in Matthew 8 says that the waves were covering the ship.
Matthew 8:24 "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep."
I don't know about you, but there is no way that I would be asleep on a boat in the middle of a fierce storm! Who was asleep? It was Jesus. I can imagine that the disciples were watching, waiting for Him to wake up and help them, after all the boat was floundering and in their minds they were going to die...how could the Master be sleeping?
Isn't this how we feel at times? Life has gotten fierce, the waves of despair are washing over us. We are drowning in the troubles of this world and we find ourselves wondering, "Where is the Lord, why doesn't He help me?"
I found myself in this situation 5 1/2 years ago. Because of the abusive marriage I was in, I was blinded by trouble and despair. I didn't know what to do or who to turn to. I felt that the Lord had abandoned me and I was alone, drowning in uncertainty and fear. I forgot as the disciples did, that the Lord was there beside me, even in the storm.
In verse 25 we see that the disciples went to the Lord and said "save us; we perish." Jesus could have gotten up and said I'm here, but He waited. The disciples had to come to the place where they realized that what they were doing was not going to save them, that their efforts were in vain and that their only hope was in Jesus to save them.
Isn't that the exact situation we found ourselves in before we were saved. All our efforts to save ourselves, to right what was going wrong in our lives was to no avail. We were going to die and there was nothing we could do to save ourselves. You see, it's only when we come to the point in which we see we can do nothing for ourselves that Jesus is able to step in and save us.
Matthew 8:26 "And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea: and there was a great calm."
That day 5 1/2 years ago was a changing day for me. I cried out to the Lord to save me and He did. I repented of my sins, put myself into His hands and He brought a calm into my life. This didn't mean that the storms still wouldn't rage around me, it meant that I was safe in the midst of the storms. One thing that you must understand is that the Lord is in control of the storm, He allows these storms in our lives to teach us and to draw us closer to Him.
We read in Matthew 14 about another storm that the disciples found themselves in once again. This time Jesus comes walking to them on the water. One of his disciples, Peter leaves the boat and walks on the water to go to the Lord. However Peter runs into a little bit of trouble.
Matthew 14:30 "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid: and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."
Peter took his eyes off the Lord and began to look at the storm around him. This is what happens to us! We take our eyes off of our Savior and become afraid of the storms of life that are swirling around us. We forget that the Master who formed, controls and can still the storm is right beside us. When Peter cried out to the Lord we find that he got an immediate response;
Matthew 14:31 & 32 "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."
Jesus was immediately there. Peter was rebuked for having little faith. Isn't that our problem? We have little faith. We see the storm but not the Savior.
We don't like the storms, we want things to be problem free. But storms are good for us...yes you read that correctly. You see, if we always had things easy, would we look to the Lord for His help and strength? No, we would rely on ourselves. We would miss the blessing of seeing the Lord do great and mightly things in our lives. Storms strengthen our faith. We would be pretty weak Christians if we didn't exercise our faith on a daily basis. So the next time a storm suddenly overtakes you, remember to straightway look into the face of your Savior, take his hand and let Him lead you through the temptest into calm waters once again.
Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high!
The sky is ov'ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threat'ning; A grave in the angry deep?
The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be,
No water can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will; Peace be still! Peace be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will; Peace, peace, be still!
Mary A Baker
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