The disciples of Jesus weathered their fair share of storms on the Sea of Galilee, a few of them recorded in the Bible for us. These Bible accounts teach us to see Jesus in the storm.
One of them describes the disciples sailing through a serious storm, but Jesus was not physically in the boat. They see a strange figure in the storm walking on the water toward the boat.
Legend had it in those days that just before you died you’d see a ghost—kinda like the grim reaper. In this deadly storm, that’s what the disciples thought was happening. Until the Lord Jesus identified himself. “Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
The first place to see Jesus in your storm is to notice where he is before the storm even happens. Before this storm recorded in Matthew chapter 14, the Bible tells us about two events Jesus experienced.
Jesus just performed the miracle of multiplying a few fish and loaves of bread and feeding thousands of people. Unfortunately, the crowds got so excited that they wanted more and more handouts from Jesus as their new bread king and weren’t responding in faith to him on his mission to be their Savior. Disappointing.
And before that the Bible reports that John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, was beheaded because of his faith in Jesus. The first person in this story to face fears is not Peter, not the disciples, but Jesus himself.
Fear of failure. Fear for his safety. Fully human like you, Jesus needed clarity and strength. Where did he find it? After he pushed his disciples away from shore, Jesus “went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23).
Jesus said no to people—even his closest friends. Jesus said no to more healing. Jesus said no to more teaching. So he could say yes to his Father. So he could respond to the temptations of fear, reset his vision, and focus on his Father’s will and ways.
He listened. He prayed. And it prepared him for the storm. Now, if Jesus the Son of God needed time away from work, away from people, time alone with God the Father, what about you?
Prepare for your storms by saying no to work and people and screens so that you can spend time alone with God the Father. He loves to be alone with you, as much as he treasured his own Son walking away from the crowds, and up the mountainside to a quiet place.
Listen to him in his Word. Pray to him. You’ll be more prepared for your storm.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I see your Son Jesus saying no to good things so that he can say yes to what is better—quiet time with you. As you treasured these intimate moments with him, I believe you treasure intimate moments that you and I spend together. I treasure them too. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Take an extra moment right now. Just pause. Put down your phone and thank God for his gracious presence. As he loves his own Son, he also loves you and wants you close. Pray this short prayer, “Father, prepare me for the storm. Amen.”