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 third place to see Jesus in the storm is reaching out to save you. When Peter’s faith was seeing Jesus, he was walking on the water. When his fear was seeing more storm than Jesus, he started sinking.
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt’” (Matthew 14:31)? Jesus doesn’t condemn doubters. He calls them to faith. And Jesus doesn’t condemn those with too small of a faith. He catches them and calls them to walk on water with him again.
And the one who stretched out his hand to save Peter here, would again stretch out his hands to save all sinners, reaching out in grace on the cross to die for our sins and forgive us.
How could we ever have too small of a faith in him again? Jesus has caught us in his power and love, and won’t let us go.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Faith looks for and finds Jesus in the storm because he sees you, he reaches out and saves you, he calls to you, “Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). So get out of your boat of safety and comfort. Get past your waves of problems and fears. And even while the winds of the storm are blowing around you, you have safety and you have opportunity in the “I” of the storm. It is perfectly calm there. Do you see it? The “I” of your storm is Jesus.
PRAYER: Jesus, you are the “I” of my storm. As the winds and waves thrash wildly around me, there is peace where you are. And I believe you are with me. Forgive my fears as you reach out in grace and save me. Empower my faith to see less storm and more you. Amen.
EVANGELISM ACTION: Which of the three places that you see Jesus in your storm has been most meaningful for you? He’s spending quiet time with the Father preparing for your storm. He’s walking in the storm with you. He’s reaching out to pull you to himself in grace. Share your choice with a friend who needs Jesus, offering them encouragement.