This poem takes a look at the incredible miracle Jesus performed in Matthew chapter 8 when He calmed the storm. Do you feel like you're being thrown around by a fierce storm right now and feel overwhelmed by its power? Have you heard your heart cry, "Jesus, don't You care? Wake up and save me!"
I pray this short poem and meditation can minister to you today if any of this sounds familiar. God bless you as you trust in Him. Love Lucy x
The Miracles Of God- Jesus Calms the Storm
Matthew 8:23-27
“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marvelled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
“May my mind not pave a way for fear in any form,The Miracles Of God- Jesus Calms the Storm
Matthew 8:23-27
“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marvelled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Let my soul remember You’re the God who stilled the storm!
Calm my worries and concerns. Let all turmoil cease.
Help my faith to grow, oh Lord, and bring my spirit peace.”
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 89:8-9
“O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.”
Insight and Reflection
There’s no doubting that life brings along various different storms, no matter who we are in this world. No one is exempt from trial and trouble because, as Jesus said in John 16:33,
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(Italics mine)
In other words, storms and times of difficulty are a given in life, even, and perhaps especially, for the child of God!
Looking at the text, it seems there was a very dark force at work behind the tempest in Matthew 8, as Jesus didn’t just still the storm; He rebuked it.
The Sea of Galilee was and is known for its sudden, violent storms, which Jesus and His disciples would have been well accustomed to. Many of these men were experienced fishermen on this body of water, so the fact that they were so terrified suggests the nature of this storm was different and more frightening than anything they had seen before.
Some scholars have observed that perhaps this weather-based assault was riled up by demonic forces and was, in fact, an attempt from Satan to destroy the Messiah and prevent salvation for mankind in one go. The ferocity of the squall, however, was quite in contrast to the serenity of the scene below deck as Jesus slept.
Although the disciples had spent a fair amount of time with Jesus by this point, had witnessed many miracles at His divine hand and had many reasons to be filled with faith, they were, instead, overcome with terror and doubt in the face of this new challenge. They didn’t allow His peace in the situation to give them peace, sadly, and so they woke the sleeping Messiah in sheer panic.
We go on to read that Christ’s first response to their fear-driven words was, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
Jesus wasn’t upset at being woken up by the disciples; He rebuked them because of their unbelief. It seems that Jesus was bothered by their fear, as fear and unbelief go hand in hand. When we’re focused on our Saviour and trust in the magnitude of His power, however, we find that there’s very little room left for fear.
As Charles Spurgeon once observed in regard to this verse,
“Jesus spoke to the men first, for they were the most difficult to deal with: wind and sea could be rebuked afterwards.”
As I mentioned before, the text tells us that Christ didn’t simply still the storm; He rebuked it. The disciples were utterly astounded at this display of power over creation itself and went on to question, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
In the space of mere minutes, the disciples witnessed both the humanity of Jesus in His need for sleep and the fullness of His deity as He overruled powers that no mere human could overrule. They saw Jesus for who He is: truly Man and truly God.
So let’s ask ourselves today:
Have I ever found myself panicking in the midst of a storm and cried out like the disciples, “Lord, wake up and save me! I’m perishing!”?
Does it bring me comfort and encouragement when I consider that although Jesus grew physically and mentally tired during His time on earth, the risen Saviour does not weary or close His eyes as He reigns from His throne? When I think of the storms He’s already brought me through safely in my life, does this remind me to have faith in the trials I’m dealing with just now?
Dwelling on the fact that Christ has authority over all other powers, even the wind and the sea, does this give me confidence that He can work and overrule in the storms that I face in life? Have I invited His power into the scary challenges that I’m going through?
We know from Scripture that our patient and merciful Saviour does not rebuke us for coming to Him in prayer. He is ever-faithful and ever-attentive to the cries of His children as He works through all of our situations.
May our own hearts and minds be peaceful enough to find rest through our tribulations in life, trusting in the love and care of our Heavenly Father, whose power can still any storm.
