He Sleeps in the Storms!
July 1, 2023 2023-07-01 7:59He Sleeps in the Storms!
Have you seen all of those “KEEP CALM’ sayings everywhere? Keep calm and Be Yourself. Keep calm and be a ninja. Keep calm and be safe. Keep calm and have a beer. Keep calm and be happy. I have seen these so much and I am just wondering if anyone has read them? I have a new one. How about this? Keep calm and remember God is still on the throne! And that brings us to the Verse of the Day:
Matthew 8:24
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
God rests in the storm. This is His peace. This is the peace He has left to us who follow Him (John 14:27). It is a peace that gives us rest in the storm.
Jesus slept in a ‘furious’ storm that day. It is not as if it were a tiny little rain shower. This was a massive squall and that little boat they were in was being tossed around like a toy in the bathtub of a 2-year-old boy. Storms will come and they will do damage. They will rock the boat. But one thing we always have to remember: The plans of God can not be thwarted (Job 42:2).
This does not mean that everything that happens is part of God’s plan. No, not at all. The Bible says that the Father cannot be tempted nor does He tempt (James 1:13). Storms bring with them temptation. The disciples that day were tempted to think Jesus didn’t care because He was asleep in the storm. When we find ourselves in a storm as we do now with this virus, don’t fall into the temptation of thinking God doesn’t care. When you find yourself in a personal storm, don’t let that little devil sitting on your shoulder speak lies into your head. Just because the furious storms rage, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t care.
Jesus calmed the storm then asked, “Where is your faith (Luke 8:25)?” The storm was an opportunity for the disciples to increase their faith. Faith is our victory (1 John 5:4).
We are living in a 40-testing period. When Jesus went out into the desert to be tempted, it was for 40 days. When the Israelites were living in the desert and the new generation was trying to figure out if they would have more faith than their fathers, it was forty years in the desert. When Moses went up on the mountain to receive the New Testament, the people had to wait, wondering what was going on for forty days. Measurements of forty in the Bible symbolize a time of wrestling with our faith. This is a time of wrestling with our faith.
Faith has wisdom so we do what we need to do to protect ourselves, but God wants us to still rest in peace even as the storm rages. It is an opportunity to increase our faith. And God wants us to increase our faith. He has more for us stored up in Heaven that He can’t wait to rain down into our lives. But the storehouse of blessing kept in Heaven with our name on it is released by faith, not fear.
Jesus rested because He knew the nature of the storm. It was an opportunity to prepare for greater things. It was not going to stop the plans He had for these men.
God’s plan for your life are bigger than this storm or that. I had one man from my church today text me saying “my faith is bigger than the foul in the air.” I loved it! Be safe! Take heed! Protect yourself and your families! But be at rest in your spirit. Nothing…nothing…no virus, no disease, no betrayal, no hurt, no divorce, no beating, nothing can thwart the plans of God for your life. When the storms rage, remember that He is at rest because He knows the storms are no match for His love and the plans He has for His children.
The storms will rage. They may cause damage. But God will be glorified and His children will be rescued and they will prosper in every situation He allows us to experience. To God be the Glory!
Comments (4)
Sarita York
I thank God for the ability to read so I won’t miss out on these wonderful messages!
Thank you for taking the time on these messages. Great reminder today to endure, knowing God’s plan is unfolding before us!!
Pastor Lee
Amen! Thank you for that encouragement Sarita. And it is true that we must endure to the end!
Jeanette Rodgers
Amen!
Pastor Lee
Amen!