The Other Side Of The Storm

CONQUERING THE STORM — [“The disciples] were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him’” [MARK 4:41]? Let’s be candid with one another. We will usually seek shelter when a storm breaks, and we may even find shelter, but we are unable to control the storm.

We cannot avoid storms, either in daily life or in our personal life. There are always storms that will come into our lives, storms that will break over us and which we will not be able to escape. In our text, the disciples were on the sea, and there would be no place for them to escape the storm that suddenly raged about them. They would have to make shore quickly, or the barque in which they sailed would be swamped and they would all be drowned.

That too often describes our experience when the storms of life break over us. We cannot find shelter, and exposed as we are, we know we are in danger of being destroyed. The disciples were terrified, just as we are terrified when violent storms break. Our experience, everything we have learned through living in this world, informs us that we will shortly be destroyed, our lives smashed on the rocks and we ourselves overwhelmed by the tempestuous sea.

Here is a truth that needs to be trumpeted by all who follow the Lord of the Storm. So long as Christ is in the boat, it will never sink. So long as the Master was in the boat, even though he was resting, the disciples were never in danger. And even when not in the boat, the Master could enable His disciple to walk above the waves, striding through the storm as a victor rather than cowering as a victim. To witness this, recall another incident when the disciples witnessed Jesus coming to them by walking on the water. “After [Jesus] had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’

“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased” [MATTHEW 14:23-32].

I want the people of God to realise that Christ is their strong tower. He is the rock on which they stand when all around is crashing down. He is their mighty protector and the defender of their lives. In Him, His people are secure from the waves and the wind that will destroy others. Jesus, the Son of God speaks up for His own before the Father, so that the enemies of the Faith are rendered powerless. Christ the Master, He Who called all things into being, can quell the storm with just a word. Make certain that He is with you, and no terror can come near. He will bring us through the storm. Amen.