And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

– Matthew 8:23-27

That must have been a dozy of a storm on the Sea of Galilee! The winds blew fiercely, waves were crashing over the sides of the boat leading the experienced fishermen to cry out in fear for their lives. On the Sea of Galilee, storms blow up quickly; the waters can look placid and calm one minute and suddenly the winds whip up with little, if any warning. A thunderstorm can quickly overtake a small vessel. As they tried to navigate in their storm, the disciples saw that Jesus slept soundly.

Unexpected storms spring up in our lives from all kinds of places. Suddenly we find ourselves dealing with a death, financial set back, an accident or sad news from a friend. The storms of life are not caused by God. Rather Jesus is with us in the storms of life providing comfort, assurance, hope and healing. Jesus brings divine power that comes from God. The next time we find ourselves in a thunder storm or a storm in life, stop, pray to Jesus whose powerful presence is with us in all moments of life.

PRAYER:

Lord, you have been our help in ages past and you are our hope in years to come. Thank you for walking with us in the days of bright blue skies and in the times of stormy weather. Amen.

– Louise Rogers