The Storms of Life

Mark 4:35-41             
 
Jesus rebuked the wind. He didn’t have to speak more than once for this occasion. But how many times does God have to tell us something before we listen?

• Psalms 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

 
Sometimes we tend to rely on self before trusting in the Lord. We see here that the men panicked, they were scared and afraid of the storm. (I’ve been on the sea during a storm, I can understand how they felt). They didn’t realize that the Master of the sea could calm or remove the storm.

• Matthew 8:23-27, And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

 

• Luke 8:22-25, Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

 
Years ago, the was an old TV commercial, “When EF Hutton speaks, people listen.” When the Lord speaks, why don’t we listen? When a newborn baby cries, her mother will speak and cuddle her and the baby calms down. Why? because the baby knows its mother’s voice. How many Christians today truly know the voice of God?
​
Storms can be physical or spiritual, small, or large. What storm is approaching you or are you in one already? What is the nature of your storm? Jonah disobeyed and his storm was for chastisement due to his sin. Peter’s storm was for faith building.

• John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 
Jesus can calm the storms of nature and of the heart. The storms will pass. How long you remain in the storm could depend on you. We know that Jesus can stop the storm. He’s just waiting on you. He’ll never leave us nor forsake us.
 
In Ecclesiastes 3, we know that to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose or everything that happens in our lives.
 
 
The Gaither Vocal Band, ‘Til The Storm Passes By:
 
In the dark of the midnight, Have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, And there's no hiding place,
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
Till the storm passes over, Till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky, Hold me fast let me stand,
In the hollow of thy hand, Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
 
 
Charles Albert Tindley, 1905, Stand By Me
 
When the storms of life are raging stand by me,
When the storms of life are raging stand by me,
When the world is tossing me,
Like a ship upon the sea,
Thou who rulest wind and water stand by me.
 
 
The words of Edward Hopper – a minister in the late 1800’s:

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach’rous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee—Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.
As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will when Thou say’st to them, “Be still.”
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar
Twixt me and the peaceful rest —then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not — I will pilot thee.”