Storms of Life

Do you remember trying to go to sleep the first night in your big boy/girl bed? You probably felt like a grown-up, especially if you had your own room! Nothing beats proving to your parents that you can sleep peacefully through the night…until you heard a loud BOOM of thunder or saw a big FLASH of lightning out your window. If you were like me, you probably went running into your parents bedroom shouting something along the lines of: “Mommy, Daddy; I’m scared!”

Luke 8:22-25 tells us that even the disciples (grown men) were scared when a storm was brewing! One day, Jesus and his disciples decided to get on a boat and travel across a lake. While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep (probably like Dad or Grandpa does in their favorite chair). As the wind and the waves began to intensify, the disciples became concerned that their lives were in danger and they immediately went over to the end of the boat to wake Jesus. Then, the disciples cried out: “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” As soon as Jesus heard their plea for help, He calmed the wind and the raging waters and the storm subsided. Jesus proceeded to ask his disciples one simple question: “Where is your faith?”

Mommy and Daddy were always good at giving us comfort on those nights when we couldn’t fall asleep in our big boy/girl beds because we were afraid of the storm. As we get older, we don’t depend on Mom and Dad to help us fall asleep at night because we develop a little faith that the storm will blow over and we are safe in our beds. Unfortunately, life brings other “storms” that weigh us down, create sleepless nights, and regularly leave us wondering where to turn. As Christians, we know in whom we are supposed to trust, but we’re human and need a reminder.

The next time a storm of any kind rolls into your life, remember that Jesus is nearby and there’s no reason to be afraid. If the fear of the unknown is a weight that’s too big to carry, feel free to go and wake Jesus.

Just don’t be surprised when He asks you the same question He asked His disciples: “Where is your faith?”

-Jacob

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