As Jesus got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was great calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” Matthew 8:23-27
My words…
Praise.
You know I have never had a near-death experience. I’ve never been lost in a desert, adrift on the ocean, or caught in an avalanche. The cars, planes and trains in which I travel all seem to work in perfect order. I have never suffered from a snake bite, gun shot, or lightning strike. So I cannot pretend to know what Your Apostles were experiencing on the Sea of Galilee. One thing is clear from scripture: They were scared to death. The roar of the wind and the waves made it nearly impossible to communicate without screaming. The waves crashed over the side of the boat, soaking their robes and sandals. Four of them were hardened fishermen, accustomed to navigating the sea, but their skills appeared to have been useless. They were left with only one choice: wake You from a deep slumber brought on by an exhausting day of teaching, healing, and arguing. What Your Apostles didn’t know at the time was that they were in the safest place they could have been at that moment. They had yet to realize Your greatest talent: saving people. And when they witnessed Your power, they were astounded. At the sound of Your voice, the violent wind and pounding sea grew still. I’m sure the Apostles never forgot the day they witnessed the sea and the wind bowing to the Son of God in worship.
Prayer for me
Lord, I know You have directed the same words to me that You did to the Apostles: Why are you fearful, you of little faith? My faith is malleable instead of solid, erratic instead of grounded. I weather storms alone instead of crying out to You for help. Bolster my faith, Lord, to know that You are in the boat with me, and I am safe.
Forgive me
Forgive me for being content with my faith-level. I am not daily striving for deeper faith. I am complacent. I am sorry for not making my time with You and my time with Your word a priority in my life.
Prayer for others
Because Your great plan included becoming human for a while, You empathize with our predicaments, our labors, our suffering. You know exactly what we are going through. There are so many of Your children sailing in the cancer boat. You’re in that boat with them. Then there’s the poverty boat. Yep, you’re there. And let’s not forget the boat of abuse. You’re there, too. These boats, and many, many more, are filled with people who are scared to death. But what they don’t know is that You’re in the same boat. All they have to do is let You save them. So I pray for those who are frightened of the storms that are raging around them. I pray they will come to believe in the One who is able to calm the storms.
Thank You
Thank you for revealing Your power in ways that are unmistakably You. This story is like a gift that I open when I want to be reminded of Your omnipotence. Thank you for showing me Your power through these words.
More praise
Jesus, You spoke into existence with wind and the waves. How beyond magnificent You are that the wind and the waves know Your voice and obey it!
