One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
– Luke 8:22-23
Many of us might remember Jonah from the Old Testament, and how his disobedience led him into a violent storm – a consequence that came as a result of his rebellion against God. Yet here, in this familiar story in Luke 8, we see a striking contrast: the disciples find themselves in a fierce storm not because they disobeyed, but because they obeyed Jesus’ command to cross the lake. Their obedience led them straight into the heart of danger!
This reminds us that following Jesus doesn’t promise us smooth sailing. Sometimes, in fact, storms may come precisely because we are walking in His will.
Just because I’m in a place where I don’t want to be doesn’t mean I’m in a place where I’m not supposed to be.
God uses the storms of life in ways that we cannot possibly understand, ways that shape us for His purpose.
Storm of Protection: Just as the storm on the lake kept the disciples close to Jesus, our trials have the ability to draw us nearer to God. We eventually figure out that we need Him… His power, His presence. We can’t rely on our own strength and ability. We need the help of the Lord, and that means surrendering the situation to Him.
Storm of Correction: Jonah was heading in the wrong direction, and God used a great storm to give him a wake-up call and get him back on the right path. When we decide to depart from God’s plan for us and go our own way, He will give us a wake-up call too. And sometimes these storms can be very painful, but He allows them because He loves us too much to watch us drift further away from Him.
Storm of Perfection: God does some of His greatest work amidst the chaos in our lives. I remember the storm that came into my life back in 2020, and gosh… I never thought that year was going to end. It was so long and hard that it ended up extending into part of 2021. But instead of blaming God and pushing Him away, I doubled my prayer time and Scripture reading each day. I remember praying to Him over and over, “Lord, I don’t know why this is all happening, but I trust You. Just lead me and I’ll keep listening and following.” I also spent as much time as I could around other men in my life who faithfully followed Christ. Their encouragement helped so much!
Just as Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, God got me through that storm without picking up a drink. My faith grew stronger, not weaker.
Maybe you’re going through a storm today. If so, I just want you to know that it isn’t outside of God’s control. The same Jesus who slept peacefully in the boat during that great storm – He’s with you now. Trust that He’s using this storm – whether to protect, correct, or perfect you – to draw you closer to Him and prepare you for the journey ahead.
All you gotta do is trust Him, regardless of the weather. Will you?
Former Blackout Artist 