Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 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. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:24-27 NIV
I love this account. It’s so strengthening, and it also makes me laugh. I can identify with the disciples. They are in a terrible storm. As N. T. Wright puts it, “The sea has always been a symbol of wild, untamable power. … The sea remained, in Jewish writing, a place and a power of darkness and evil, threatening and wild.” Think of it. No lights except the moon and stars, a small boat in the sea, violently tossed by huge waves and winds. They think they are likely to die, which seems a reasonable fear at this point. Terrified, they wake Jesus, who was unbelievably sleeping through the storm. “Save us! We’re going to drown!”
So, Jesus gets up and does exactly what they asked. He makes it all stop. And now they are even more terrified. “What kind of man IS this?” they ask each other. The obvious answer is that this man is not just a man. He is far more. Who could control the sea? Certainly, no man. Only the gods, or in Israel, to these Jews, only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the God who created the waters.
Jesus wanted them to know that. He was man. He got tired. He was sleeping. But He was also GOD, 100% God, capable of handling every storm. He asked them, “Guys, why is your faith so little and you became so fearful?” He was pointing them to who He is, and they did ask the right question. As a man, he was sleeping, but as God over everything, He was still 100% in charge and trustworthy. He is always working. As Psalm 121:4 assures, “Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” He is never off the clock, never disconnected, always on time. He is always working on my behalf. The time to panic is never.
If you are a Jesus follower, Jesus is the King of the Universe, the One who has already defeated. He is in your boat. You don’t need to pace the deck, fearing you will drown. No need to shout in panic, trying to make Him hear you. You can trust Him. The storm is never bigger or stronger than He is. He sees, hears, knows, and is keeping you in His almighty and loving care. Whether it’s a tornado or a tumor, I can trust that the One who rules the waves is with me.
- Jesus, You know the storm I face. I choose to trust You. I know You are fully committed to me and are on top of it all. Thank You. I will trust and not be afraid.