Matthew 8:24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
Ever experience a “furious storm?” Maybe a whole season of “furious storms?” They’re the kind of storms so overwhelming you’re afraid your boat might sink. Wave after wave pounds your faith and pummels your hope. You might even wonder if Jesus is sleeping. I’ve been through a few.
One of my friends, an airplane pilot, compares preparation for the inevitable storms of life to the prep he goes through before flying. He says he even has checklists for his checklists! Locked landing gear or poorly functioning instrument controls can doom flight safety. So he prepares. And if we hope to weather whatever storms life brings our way, we need to be ready before the first gust of wind hits.
When the furious storm came upon the disciples, they weren’t prepared. They panicked. They woke Jesus up, crying, “Lord, save us!” (Matt 8:25). And how did Jesus respond? He rebuked them for their lack of faith. Even though they had been with Jesus, witnessed his miracles and heard his teaching, they let fear capsize their faith. They should have been ready to face their fears, but they weren’t.
Contrast their reaction to the Gentile centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (a few verses earlier). “Just say the word and my servant will be healed” (v.8). Marveling at the soldier, Jesus said, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith” (v.10).
Great faith. The best preparation we have to encounter life’s storms rests on faith. Do we believe Jesus is in the boat with us and no matter how furious the storm, will keep us from drowning? If not, then maybe we better get back to the source of our faith—the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
If you find yourself in the wake of a furious storm right now, turn to God’s word and let it activate your faith. Faith always leads to hope. Church Father Chrysostom wrote that we should “open the doors of [our] comfortable despair, that the great storms of hope may blow life into us again.” Now that’s the kind of furious storm we can live with.