“The Storm He Sees”
In Florida we know about the devastation of storms – hurricanes, tornadoes, flash flooding – you name it – we have experienced it. With Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne hitting the Florida coast last year and Dennis this year we have become more than aware of the destruction, danger and death such storms bring in their path. Likewise, there is a heightened awareness concerning the precaution and preparation one must make to endure and survive such storms when found in the midst of them.
In life as well, we each face many storms of equal or greater devastation. You may be in a storm right now in your heart; it might be the death of a love one, living with chronic pain, a recent divorce, estrangement from a son or daughter or financial disaster. Regardless of the storm, you need to know something about the Lord: “The Storm He Sees.” The seas that are raging in your heart, the Lord sees and understands. The Lord knows where you are; He knows what you are going through and what you are feeling. More importantly, the Lord cares about you personally. Listen as you read the Lord’s caring words in Isaiah 65:24, “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
The Lord is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). He is the great deliverer (Psalm 34:19); He is our strength and shield in the raging storms of life (Psalm 28:7). The Lord never said we would miss the storms of life. He said in this world you have tribulation (storms) but take courage, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The Lord has a lot to say and teach us about the storms you are facing today or will in the future. The question is, “Are you willing to call and listen to Him?” Given these truths and I pray an open heart, read these words of God in Matthew 14:25-33. Here we find the disciples in a storm that threatens their very existence:
25. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 27. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 28. Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29. And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31. Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32. When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God’s Son!"
Notice verse 25 says, “And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. This passage tells us JESUS HEARS OUR CRIES IN THE STORM AND COMES TO US IN OUR DARKEST HOUR. He takes the initiative. Listen to the same account of this incident in the Gospel of Mark: “And after bidding them farewell, He departed to the mountain to pray. And when it was evening, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and He was alone on the land. And seeing them straining (harassed in rowing) at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were frightened. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” (Mark 6:46-50)
The Gospel of Mark says Jesus was on the mountaintop interceding with The Father and he looks down and sees his disciples straining at the oars for the wind was against them. At the fourth watch, he came to them. What a picture this is of Our Lord today seated at the right hand of The Father interceding for us as our Advocate and High Priest (Mark 16:19). But the Gospel of Mark says that Jesus “intended to pass by them” Why? Why was Jesus intending to pass by his disciples in the midst of this desperate and deadly situation?
We read it wasn’t until the disciples cried out that Jesus helped them. I believe the Lord is teaching his disciples to live by faith; to live by a reliance and dependence upon Him and His Word in every circumstance (Colossians 2:6-9). He wants to develop in us, his disciples of today, a spirit of dependency on Him so we grow in faith and in grace and knowledge of the Lord who is shaping and molding us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
As mentioned earlier, God already knows our need (Isaiah 65:24) but he desires for us to exercise faith and call upon him. He wants to show us his great love and power. The Lord promises in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” God wanted to expand the disciples’ faith. Even though the Lord had just fed the five thousand, the disciples never imagined He had the power to calm the winds and seas – their faith needed to be expanded.
Notice as well how The Lord comes in the midst of the storm. The Lord is “walking on the sea”. He comes with all authority and power (Matthew 28:18). HE COMES AS A CONQUEROR so that through him we can learn by faith to conquer our own fears even our fear of death and the separation it causes from our loved ones (Hebrews 2:14-15). The Bible says, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39) The psalmist knew this truth when he said, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.” (Ps. 34:4). Paul knew this truth when he told young pastor Timothy “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
This passage also tells us JESUS COMES AS A COMFORTER IN THE STORM. Verse 27 says, “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Jesus immediately responds to the cries of the disciples and wants them to “Take courage.” The problem is we, like the disciples, find it difficult in the strom to take by faith what Jesus wants to give us. The comfort is there, the strength is there and the courage is there but we must receive it by faith (Galatians 5:16). Understanding this, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to continually act in faith: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) It is by faith your recognize the depth of your need and draw near with confidence to the throne of grace (1 Cor. 15:10).
Remember, Jesus knows our every weakness and has supplied everything we need in this life (Read Colossians 2:10) but we must receive it by faith. Jesus, likewise, knows our every blemish and sinful desire and still loved us enough to die on the Cross so we might now be comforted and strengthened by Him in life – a life that is abundant and eternal (John 10:9-10). That is why the Apostle Paul could say with conviction, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
It is important to understand JESUS DOES NOT SPARE US THE STORMS BUT DESIRES TO SAFELY CARRY US THROUGH THE THEM. Read again verses 28-31: 28. Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29. And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31. Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Jesus knows our frame is but dust (Psalm 103:14). He understands our crisis of faith and his desire is to use the crisis to teach us to live in victory. The tragedy of the crisis of faith is that we, like Peter, take our eyes off Jesus and then all we see is the wind and the waves. You cannot fix your eyes on more than one thing at a time so fix your eyes upon Jesus! “Look full in His wonderful face.” Our fears blind us to faith but our faith frees us from fear. Remember, Christ came to set us free! (Galatians 5:1) He doesn’t want us living in the bondage to our fears.
Another encouraging truth is how Jesus works in our faith failures. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, Jesus never took his eyes off Peter (The Lord’s eyes are even on the sparrow that falls). What comfort and joy to know Jesus is quick to save, quick to forgive and quick to overlook our lack of faith.
Take courage in knowing Jesus has a purpose in the storms of life, which we may not fully understand. TRUST THE LORD IS WORKING IN THE STORMS for your benefit (Proverbs 3:5,6 & Romans 8:28) and cast yourself upon Him. He cares for you. The psalmist says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you.” (Ps. 55:22). One might ask, “How do you cast yourself on the Lord?” Again we come to faith (Hebrews 11:6). We cast ourselves upon the Lord by COMING TO HIM IN FAITH, BY TRUSTING IN HIS WORD. God is faithful and true to his promises and has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Thus, King David concludes: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Palm 23:4) It has been said, “You cannot break God’s promises by leaning on them.” So, lean on the everlasting arms of the Savior!
Finally, it is in the storms of life that JESUS BRINGS WORDS OF COUNSEL. Jesus said in verses 31-33: "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32. When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God’s Son!" Scripture refers to the Body of Christ as being in heaven and earth. The Lord says in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that when he returns for his church on earth He will bring “them” with Him. “Them” refers to Christian brothers and sisters we long to see again, who have gone on before us in physical death to heaven’s glory.
The reason Peter and our departed Christian love ones were not swallowed up in the waters of death is because they said the words recorded here: “Lord save me.” The Lord brought Peter back to the disciples, back to the lifeboat and they were all together again. I wonder, as you read this, “Are you in “The Life” boat with Jesus?” If not, ask Him to save you and take you by the hand. The prophet Isaiah promises this to the one trusting Jesus: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Are you trusting in Him today? When you call upon Him, He will cause you to walk upon the waters of every storm you face and lead you to the place of safety.
