Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus Calms a Storm

Life is like catching a boat into the sea. Some get in and set a course to a desired destination. Others get in but simply float aimlessly around carried by the waves of the sea. No matter what kind of boat we've boarded, we are all in "the same boat" when it comes to the storms of life. Some of those storms will bring waves that will swamp our vessels and threaten our lives.

What kinds of storms are we talking about? It can be anything that "rocks your boat." Storms come in different shapes and forms. It can be the loss of a loved one; the loss of a job; the loss of health. It can be an abusive parent; a runaway teenager; a sick rapist. It can be an oppressive boss; an oppressive neighborhood; an oppressive government. 

How can I survive the storms of life? Some think that the boat is the most important thing. The bigger, the better. The more advanced in technology, the merrier. But we must not forget the Titanic. Others think that personal training and skills are going to get you out of trouble. But we must not forget the many capable people who have lost their lives trying to fight a storm. It is not the boat or my personal skills.

What is the most important thing to survive a storm? If anything makes a boat special is who is in the boat. If I am to survive the storms of life, I must follow Jesus into the boat of his choosing. I can't expect him to follow me into a boat of my choosing; it is the other way around. Once there, I must trust him with my whole life. At times, my faith fails and it seems like God is asleep and does not care for me. The truth is that Jesus is in the boat and has not left me.

Jesus is not a mere man. He is God in the flesh. He came from the heavens to the earth with powers to command them at will. He calls me to follow him. He calls me to trust him. Is Jesus in my boat? I don't want to "miss the boat." Lord, enable me to follow you and trust you in the midst of the storms of my life.