Because I Saw Your Storm

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him (Luke 8:22–25, KJV).

All of us have faced a storm at one point in our lives. Our storms may not have been the same caliber, and they may have felt different in our current vessel, but all storms are the same to God. There is no storm that’s greater than God’s ability. We’re reminded of this truth in our key Scripture setting today. Jesus had specifically sent His disciples in a boat away from the masses so they could find some time alone with Him. In our lives, no matter how much we need the church, we still need times alone with the Master in order to make it to Heaven.

Once Jesus and the disciples got into the boat, Jesus disappeared to take a nap. Then, a storm came upon the disciples in the ship. The disciples came to find Jesus, and He awoke to calm the wind and the waves. No sooner was the storm overturned, Jesus turned to the disciples and asked them a key question: where is your faith? It wasn’t that the disciples didn’t have faith in God, they didn’t have faith in themselves. We need to consider where is our own faith in our own storms. When we’re in His presence, and have the Holy Ghost in our lives, He’s given us every power to overcome the storm we’re in!

It may seem harsh that after Jesus calmed the storm, He turned to chasten the disciples after what they had been through. But, just like the disciples, we all need correction now and then in our walk with Christ. However, in order for Jesus to correct us, He must allow a storm to come into our life. Storms will teach us things the calmness of the sea will not. There is a purpose to everything (including storms) in our life!

While the disciples saw and learned great truths about their storm on the boat, Jesus was not yet done teaching. No sooner did Jesus calm the storm, the disciples arrived on the shores of the Gadarenes. They soon were faced with a demon-possessed man(Luke 8:26–27). This man was without control of himself, but still found a way to seek Jesus. When Jesus cast the demons out of the man, he became clothed and in his right mind (Luke 8:35). They learned when you are in the presence of Jesus there is fullness of joy.

When we take a step back and see the entire purpose of this storm, we realize it’s not truly about the disciples, but the man in the Gadarenes. The man, living in the caves was able to look out over the water to witness the disciples in their storm. He was able to see Jesus calm the storm and deliver the disciples in their hour of need. He realized if Jesus was able to calm their storm, Jesus would be able to heal his storm, no matter how great it seemed! Sometimes God will allow us to endure a storm that will minister to someone else. If it wasn’t for the test, there wouldn’t be a testimony. Let’s thank God for trusting us today with the storm we’re in because He’s using us to reach another lost soul.