Storms
2020-12-19Matthew 14:22 NIV
When ‘Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side’, He knew there was a storm brewing, but He sent them into the middle of it because He wanted them to learn, grow, and stretch their faith.
The Bible tells us: ‘Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him…they were terrified. “It’s a ghost” they said…But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid!”‘ (vv. 25-27 NIV). There are three important lessons for us in this story:
1) Serving God doesn’t mean we’ll avoid life’s storms, but it protects us when we’re in them. Jesus promised, ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NIV).
2) What we see as another problem heading our way might actually be the Lord coming towards us. The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost, when in reality He was their deliverer.
3) Jesus might not show up when we want Him to, but He’ll always show up on time. The disciples had been in the storm for hours before Jesus appeared. And when He appeared, He said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Before Jesus dealt with what was troubling them on the outside, He calmed them down on the inside. That’s how He works.
First He changes us, then He changes our circumstances. This helps us to grow in faith, so we’re better equipped to handle the next storm that blows into our lives.