Have you ever read something and when you go back and read it again you get something different out of it? Now what about scriptural? I know have many times and it just proves how alive God’s Word is.
One morning as I was eating, I decided to get in a little bible reading while my son was sleeping after a feed- I have but so many options to do when he’s sleep- and I tumbled upon Matthew 8; the story of Jesus calming the storm.
And it reads: Matthew 8:23-27
“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, [b]“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
After skimming through it, I had to reread because something stood out differently this time than any other time that I have read this story. It may have something to do with the fact it encouraged my soul because of what I am currently going through this season.
So, this story about Jesus calming the storm starts off with His disciples following him and then out of no where, without any warning, they were it with a huge storm nearly sweeping them over and drowning them. All the while Jesus was peacefully sleeping. Only to wake to their cry to save them. His response was shade thrown to their faith and a simple question, “why are you afraid?”
Jesus says to them, “You have little faith, why are you afraid?”
Okay, now imagine being in their shoes, in the middle of a furious storm, and all Jesus response back is your faith is small and asking why you are afraid.
How many of us followed Jesus, decided to give our lives to Him? How many of us have made up in our minds to trust Jesus and lean onto His safety and protection? How many of us have followed and things have been going well, but then out of nowhere a storm hits! Sickness, a loss, a financial setback, a court issue, a break up, a spiritual attack, a burden that seems to weigh so heavy you are about to drown if Jesus does not come and save you!
I ask you, why are you so afraid? Why do you have little faith?
If God is for you, who cares what is against you. It will not stand a chance. You must stand firm in what you believe to know is true, and that is the Word of God.
In the story, after Jesus asks his disciples about their faith and fear, He rebuked the winds and the waves and suddenly there was calmness. Now I’m wondering what would have happened had the disciples just sat still and trust the Jesus was going to save them even without them saying anything. I’m sure though, their faith was increased after that because they then realized that even the winds and waves and obey Him, He must be sent from God with that kind of power.
So, I say to you, do not be afraid. Just as Jesus rebuked their storm, He has the authority to do the same for you. Instead of crying out in fear, cry out with the power of your tongue and speak over your storm that it must seize. Jesus will give you the power, grace, and shield to withstand any storm that comes your way. Don’t be surprised when one pops up with no warning, it just means God is about to move and grow your faith even-the-more.
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