Thunder cracked in the middle of the night. But it wasn’t the storm that woke me. I heard a faint cry coming from the bedrooms. I rolled out of bed. Inside the dark room, I heard another whimper and picked up the child. The little one was half awake and drenched in sweat. I calmed the sleepy toddler with gentle rocking motions. Pacing the floor in the dark.  The storm outside passed overhead and sleep returned.

The storms of life creep up on us. We awaken from a “normal” life. Wind and destruction rain down. Marriages dissolve. Death steals. Loss happens. Sickness weakens. Grief overwhelms. Is your boat sinking? Are the waves of despair rolling over you?

Maybe the waves are quiet at first. A whisper of guilt: You messed up again. A voice of doubt: Where is God in all of this? The rain begins to fall. Slowly. Just a few drops. Then the sun disappears behind black clouds. The cold air takes your breathe away. The waves begin to splash against the boat. One wave. Then another. Then another. The circumstances are too much. You know Jesus is sleeping in the bottom of the boat. He has promised to never leave you. But doubt threatens to overturn even your faith.

Luke 8:23-25 – And as they were sailing He {Jesus} fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!”

Do not miss the lesson the disciples learned while Jesus was in the boat. Jesus is in control of the storm. All of those circumstances rocking your boat, He holds them. Have faith in Jesus. The one who commands the winds and the waves is still Lord over all.

How quickly I forget, as did the disciples, that Jesus told them as they entered the boat, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” It was a promise from Him that they were going to the other side! I need not doubt His word, no matter what the circumstances. – Cynthia Heald

Matthew 14:22-33 -….. Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Sometimes He asks us to step further out and deeper into the storm. We think we’ve handled all we can handle. And suddenly, we are asked to deal with even more. We had faith while the storm raged around us, but what about when we are asked to do something even scarier? Suddenly we are like Peter, in the middle of something we had no idea was coming.

We start sinking because we are focus on the circumstances and not our Savior. Jesus grabs ahold of us. The lesson for Peter (and us) is Jesus will take ahold of you in the storm. Your faith is not up to you. Being brave and casting out fear isn’t your job. You don’t even have to reach out to Jesus. He’s already reaching for you. Look at Him. He’s right there waiting.

I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search.” Psalm 77:6

Remember God’s words and God’s works during the storm. The psalmist searched out Who God was. What He did. And remembered.

Psalm 77 says we can remember God’s….
Steadfast love
Promises
Grace
Compassion
Creation
Redemption
Faithfulness

This is faith. Our faith is nourished by developing a strong sense of God’s acting in the past, so that we begin to count on Him to act consistently with His character in the future – again, and again, and again. – C. Donald Cole

When the storms of life threaten to overwhelm you, remember Jesus is in control and your faith can be strong.

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What storm are you facing right now? Read Psalm 77. What do you need to remember about God during this storm?

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