Just fifty miles to my west, cities and towns have been swept away from a storm named Helene, which brought
as much as two feet of rain to the Appalachian Mountains. She is the eighth Atlantic storm of the season, and, undoubtedly, more will strike. Storms are certain, whether they be hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, thunderstorms or blizzards. In some ways, we get used to them. But the shock of their power is something we never get used to.
As certain as physical storms are the storms of life. But within them are what we might call storm certainties. We can see them in the account of a storm on the Sea of Galilee nearly twenty centuries ago. The Lord Jesus gave instructions to His disciples to get into a ship and cross to the other side while He dismissed the multitudes. After the dismissal, Christ went to the mountaintop. Halfway into their trip, a tempest struck. But the Savior did three things to show that in life’s storms, God proves His care. First, “he saw them” (Mar 6:48). He also prayed for them while on that mountaintop above (v46). Then He came to them (v48); He did not leave them alone. In the storms of life, remember that the Lord sees us and knows our need. He intercedes as our Great High Priest above (Heb 7:25). And He will never leave us nor forsake us (13:5).
Just as encouraging is the fact that in life’s storms, God shows His power. The disciples were being tossed on the waves of the sea, helpless to bring their ship to land. But if the power of the storm was overwhelming, what does it say about the power of the One who can walk on top of it? So often, God reminds us in our storms that He is unlimited in His might, that He hears our prayers, and that He is in total control. Prompted by the Lord, believers come to our aid at just the right time and in just the right manner to make it clear that God showcases His power in His own unmistakable way.
From this story we also learn that in life’s storms, God calms our fears. As Jesus approached the ship, the disciples were terrified, not realizing who it was. In a similar situation prior to this (4:35-41), Christ calmed the storm in the midst of the disciples. But now He calmed the disciples in the midst of the storm. He did so with these words: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mar 6:50 ESV). His central statement is two words in Greek (ego eimi), meaning “I AM.” When the I AM is with you, there is no need to fear.
A final storm certainty is that in life’s storms, God tests our faith. The previous situation at sea had Christ with them in the ship when the storm struck. Here, He was not with them. But He had told them to go “to the other side” (v45) of the sea. They were not going to sink at the halfway mark. Would they trust Him? God is always testing our faith. It is what He prizes in His people.
If a storm is raging in your life today, rest assured that the One who has the ear of the wind and waves, and who has the sea beneath His feet, has everything under control. He is the great I AM.
