Remain Steady in the Storm

Jesus got into a boat with His disciples and said, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. Without warning, a windstorm struck the lake, and the boat began to fill with water. Terrified, Jesus’ disciples awoke Him. They said, “Don’t you care that we are going to die?” But Jesus did not panic; He kept His composure, remaining steady in the storm. Jesus calmly stood up in the boat and rebuked the wind and the waves. And when everything was peaceful, He asked His disciples, “Where is your faith?”

When we think of storms, we visualize a weather event. But there is another type of storm that has nothing to do with the weather. I’m talking about the storms of life. Life’s storms can come without warning. Anything that disrupts your life qualifies as a life storm. A storm can include losing your job, an unforeseen accident, or the loss of a loved one.

The disciples thought they knew who Jesus was. They had seen Him do great things for others. But they had not experienced His authority until they found themselves in a storm. Sooner or later, everyone will experience the storms of life. Perhaps you are in a storm right now. If you want to fulfill God’s purpose for your life, you’ve got to trust God. If you trust Him, He will be your comfort in the storm.

Why Storms Happen

Storms do not just happen. Regardless of their size, every storm has a purpose. Nature’s storms, such as hurricanes, typhoons, and rainstorms, come to cool and replenish the Earth’s water. Similarly, the non-meteorological storms we face in life also serve a purpose. Some storms come to test us and strengthen our resolve. Others come to break us, but it is in these moments that we find our true strength. Understanding the purpose of storms can help us navigate life’s challenges with greater insight and preparedness.

Your lake is anything that lies between you and your purpose. Your lake could be an addiction, depression, insufficiency, or sickness. Whatever your lake is, trust God and remain steady in the storm; you will cross over and come face to face with your purpose.

The Persistent Power Behind the Tempest

We are in spiritual warfare. Our fight is not against flesh and blood people, but against spirits that have no physical form. We are fighting against evil spirits–satanic beings–evil princes of darkness who rule this world. Unlike us, demonic spirits work together. I have seen denominations fight against each other, churches fight against other churches, preachers fight against one another, and people fight against one another. But I have never seen a demon fight another demon. While we fight each other, demon spirits work together to destroy us.

Science tells us that nature is the power behind storms like hurricanes, typhoons, rainstorms, and windstorms, but what is the power behind the storms we go through in life? The Bible says Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Wind is fast-moving air; therefore, the power behind the windstorm in Luke 8:23 is Satan. He knew Jesus was going to rescue a demon-possessed man. The purpose of the windstorm was to distract Jesus from His mission. But Jesus remained steady in the storm. He rebuked the wind and the sea, and it became calm.

I have never heard of anyone reprimanding a storm. People rebuke another person, but it makes no sense to rebuke a storm. But Jesus understood that the power behind the storm was the prince of the power of the air. When Jesus rebuked the storm, He reprimanded the one who had caused it– Satan.

Stay Focused

When the storm ceased, Jesus and the disciples arrived on the other side of the lake in the region of the Gadarenes. Immediately upon stepping out of the boat, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. He lived in the town cemetery among the dead and had lived there with demon spirits in the tombs for a long time. When he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and cried, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most-High God? I beg You, do not torture me!” But Jesus remained focused on His purpose. He had come to deliver the man from demonic influence.

Isn’t it amazing that people who would not show mercy towards you will beg you for mercy? That’s why you can’t worry about trying to discover who your friends are. You must find out who your God is. As long as the demon-possessed man was hurting himself, the demons were alright with it. Poisoning yourself by worrying about what your “X” is doing is okay with your friends. But as soon as you go to Jesus, the demons start trembling, and your friends start tripping because now the shoe is on the other foot. That’s why you have to consider the Rock and stay focused on your purpose, even after you come through the storm. If you remain focused, God will renew your spirit.

God is With You

You may be going through the storm of your life; stay focused; Jesus is coming for you. The Bible states that Jesus is always with us and will never leave us. That’s why you have to remember God’s promises. Because when you are in a storm, it does not feel like Jesus is in the boat with you. You start saying things like, “Lord, I know You said You would never leave me, but the water is rising in this boat. Lord, WHERE ARE YOU?” I know it’s not good grammar, but if you have ever been scared almost to death, you will call Him whatever the words come out of your mouth.

It may seem that God does not care that you are in a storm, but He is in the boat with you. God is our present help in trouble. He sometimes allows storms in your life to increase your faith. But if you remain steady in the storm, trusting God in the face of inevitable defeat, you will cross over to the other side of the lake. You will fulfill God’s purpose for your life.