The Middle of My Storm

“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” – Matthew 14:23-24

It is late in the afternoon, and Jesus is sending His disciples away, on a boat, on the sea, heading for the opposite shore. See Him, emotionally worn, sending the multitudes away. Climbing a mountain as the sun sets, after the crowd is gone, their joy, energy, and fullness still ringing in His ears. Praying all night… and the disciples, sent away, are now alone in the middle of the sea as a storm comes up. Jesus, meanwhile, is on the shore… on a mountaintop… praying for them. He waits… until midnight. And then He walks to them on the water. And the disciples, already in panic mode, see their Savior walking to them on water – and scream in fright. But then He speaks… not to calm the storm… but to calm His child. And Peter, suddenly forgetting that their ship is sinking in light of this new event, makes this moment into even more of a faith journey. “Lord, if it is You, call me to walk to You on water.” Jesus says, “Come.” Like, you didn’t even have to ask – I would have been there for you anyway. And so – Peter walks on water. But then, for just a moment, he loses sight of Jesus. He begins to sink. And as if it hadn’t been bad enough in a sinking ship already, now Peter is sinking alone in the middle of the sea, in the middle of a storm, because he wanted to make this a faith journey. But Jesus stretches out His hand. And catches Peter’s. And says, even when you lost sight of Me – I was still here. I will always hold your hand. Don’t fear. Hand in hand, Jesus and Peter, the two head back to where Peter had started – and where Jesus had been going. And the moment they reach the boat – the storm ceases.

“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’” – Matthew 14:25-27

Do you feel like you are in the middle of a storm today? That Jesus has left you… or sent you away? That you made things worse for yourself… because you wanted this to be a faith journey? And now you’re sinking, alone in the middle of the sea, in the middle of a storm?

But maybe Jesus is on a mountaintop praying for you. Maybe He is walking to you, as your Savior, and you’re just in panic mode. Maybe He’s waiting to calm the storm on the sea until He calms the storm in your heart. Maybe you’re afraid to do something He’s already promised you.

And – this one’s not a “maybe” – He is holding your hand in the middle of your storm.

“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” – Matthew 14:31