On Wednesday night we were studying that text in Luke 8, when Jesus calms the storm on
the Sea of Galilee. The disciples are in a boat when a sudden storm hits—a storm that has
even seasoned fishermen white-knuckled. As the waves rise higher and the boat takes on
water, where’s Jesus? He’s asleep in the back, oblivious to the chaos. Or so it seems.
The disciples wake him in desperation: “Master, don’t you care if we drown?” There’s a
question humanity’s been asking for centuries. When life feels like it’s pulling us under, it’s
natural to wonder if God’s even looking. But the question says more about us than it does
about Him.
Jesus stands up, looks at the storm, and says, “Peace, be still.” Like telling a barking dog to
shut its yapper, just like that, the wind dies, and the water goes smooth as glass. Then he
turns to his disciples and asks, “Where is your faith?” That’s when we realize the real issue
wasn’t the storm outside the boat; it was the storm inside of the disciples.
Life’s storms are a given. Trouble: on that you can rely. Whether it’s a bad diagnosis, a
broken relationship, or just the everyday weight of the world, it comes for all of us. What makes the difference isn’t the absence of the storm—it’s the presence of Jesus. The disciples were safe the whole time, not because of their skill or strength, but because of who was in the boat with them.
And that’s the point. Real peace doesn’t come from the storm stopping; it comes from
knowing the one who commands the wind and waves is near.
Maranatha,
Jordy
