Introduction – When the Storms Hit
Have you ever noticed how quickly life can change from calm to chaos?
One moment the sun is shining, and everything feels under control — and the next, you’re in the middle of a storm.
It might be
• a phone call with bad news,
• a health scare,
• a family crisis, or
• a sudden wave of anxiety or loss.
You didn’t see it coming, and you can’t stop it.
That’s exactly where the disciples find themselves in this story.
They’re in a boat, doing what Jesus told them to do, when out of nowhere a fierce storm hits.
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1. Storms Are Part of Life (v. 37)
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.”
The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do —
“Let’s go over to the other side.”
They were in the centre of His will,
following His command… and still,
they found themselves in a storm.
That tells us something important:
storms are not always signs that we’ve done something wrong.
Sometimes they come precisely because we’ve done something right.
Obedience doesn’t exempt us from hardship
— it often leads us straight into situations that test and grow our faith.
We live in a world that’s
? broken,
? unpredictable, and
? often unfair —
and faith doesn’t give us a free pass from that reality.
The disciples’ boat was being swamped,
- but they weren’t alone.
They had Jesus with them — and that makes all the difference.
We tend to think that when things get rough, something must be wrong:
“Why is this happening to me?”
“Did I make a mistake?”
“Has God forgotten me?”
But maybe the real question is not “Why is there a storm?” — it’s “Who’s in the boat with me?”
Every one of us faces storms of different kinds:
• Physical storms — health, pain, loss, fatigue.
• Emotional storms — anxiety, depression, loneliness.
• Relational storms — conflict, disappointment, tension at home or work.
• Spiritual storms — times when faith feels fragile or distant.
And often, like the disciples, we don’t see them coming.
Life can change in a heartbeat.
But here’s the truth:
the presence of a storm does not mean
the absence of Jesus.
Sometimes He allows us to face things we can’t control, so we’ll learn to trust the One who can.
Storms strip away our illusions of control.
They show us how small we are — but
they also remind us how great He is.
They don’t just reveal the strength of the wind;
they reveal the strength of our faith.
And here’s the good news:
even when you feel like the waves are too much, Jesus is still in the boat.
He’s not pacing the shore, shouting advice from a distance
— He’s right there,
? sharing the journey,
? fully present in the chaos.
So when life’s storms hit, don’t assume God has left you
— maybe He’s closer than you realise,
waiting for you to call His name.
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2. Jesus Is Present, Even When He Seems Asleep (v. 38)
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’”
Have you ever felt that?
“Lord, don’t you care? Don’t you see what’s happening?”
The silence of Jesus can feel like absence, but it isn’t.
? He’s still in the boat.
The waves might be raging, but He hasn’t left.
? He’s still in the boat!
Sometimes God’s silence is not neglect — it’s an invitation to trust Him more deeply.
Faith doesn’t grow on calm seas; it grows in the storm.
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(Object Illustration – The Umbrella)
(Bring out an umbrella and open it slowly as you speak.)
When the rain starts, an umbrella doesn’t stop the rain — it just changes how you stand in it.
o You can still hear the storm,
o you can still feel the wind,
o but you’re covered.
You’re not untouched, but you’re protected.
Following Jesus doesn’t mean escaping the storm
— it means discovering shelter in Him.
When we walk with Jesus, we don’t deny the storm — we stand differently in it.
He doesn’t promise calm weather, but
He promises calm hearts.
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3. Jesus Speaks Peace Into Chaos (v. 39)
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
The same voice that spoke creation into being now speaks to creation again.
The wind and the waves recognise His authority.
Jesus doesn’t just calm a storm — He reveals who He truly is.
This is more than a teacher or prophet; this is the Son of God, Lord over nature itself (more of this next week)
And the truth is, He still speaks peace today.
Sometimes He calms the storm around us;
other times, He calms the storm within us.
Either way, He’s still Lord over both.
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4. Faith Over Fear (vv. 40–41)
“He said to His disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’”
Jesus’ question cuts right to the heart of it —
“Why are you so afraid?” (anxious, worried)
He’s not scolding them for being human — He’s inviting them to grow.
The problem wasn’t that they felt afraid — anyone would — but that fear had taken the driver’s seat.
Fear had become louder than faith.
It’s easy to trust Jesus when the sea is calm and the skies are clear.
But faith is really proven when the storm clouds roll in and everything feels uncertain.
That’s when we discover what our faith is anchored to.
Fear focuses on the storm
— on what’s crashing around us,
what might go wrong,
what feels out of control.
Faith focuses on the Saviour
— on who’s in the boat, and
what He’s already done.
The disciples had seen Jesus
o heal the sick,
o drive out demons, and
o teach with authority
— but this moment forced them to see Him in a whole new way.
When He spoke and the sea went silent, they were struck with awe.
“Who is this?
Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
That’s the turning point. (see next Sunday)
Their fear of the storm turned into reverent awe of the One who ruled over it.
Because real peace doesn’t come from calm circumstances
— it comes from knowing who holds the storm in His hands.
Faith doesn’t pretend the waves aren’t real
— it simply knows that Jesus is greater.
Faith doesn’t mean we never feel afraid
— it means we don’t let fear have the final word.
So when the storms of life rise up, and you’re tempted to panic, remember this:
the One who commands the sea is still in your boat.
He’s still Lord over wind and wave —
and His peace is still greater than your fear.
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Who’s in Your Boat?
Here’s the question this story asks us:
When the waves rise and fear sets in, who or what are you trusting in?
Because peace doesn’t come from perfect circumstances; it comes from a perfect Saviour.
When the storm hits, He still says, “Peace. Be still.”
So maybe today you just need to remind yourself:
Jesus is still in the boat. He hasn’t left you.
o The wind may howl,
o the waves may rise
? — but He’s not panicking.
And neither do you need to.
He is the peace in your storm.
Video song: You’re in the boat with me (on our YouTube Channel – search “Highfield Community Baptist”)
Reflection:
Lord Jesus, You spoke peace to the wind and the waves,
and You still speak peace to our hearts today.
You never promised calm seas,
but You did promise Your presence —
and that changes everything.
When storms rise, help us to remember:
You are in the boat with us.
You are not distant.
You are not unaware.
You are Lord —
over the wind,
the waves, and
our worries.
So today, we choose to trust You again.
Not just with our Sundays, but with our Mondays.
Not just when life feels easy, but when the clouds roll in.
Teach us to live with steady faith —
to fix our eyes on You when the waves grow high,
and to follow You wherever You lead. amen
