The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
(Matthew 14:32-33 MSG)
There’s not one person on God’s green earth who enjoys storms and even if we looked for ways to avoid them, they still come—unexpectedly. Strangely enough, God still allows His children to go through them. Do you ever wonder why?
In Matthew 14, after feeding 5,000 people, Jesus “insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people” (v.22, emphasis added). Sure enough, the disciples obeyed and got in the boat, unaware that a wind storm awaited them. If you’re familiar with the story, you know how it ends—Jesus came to their rescue, walking on the water (encouraged Peter to try it too), got in the boat and calmed the storm. But here’s the part that fascinates me the most, “The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”’ (v.33). We don’t hear this declaration as He feeds the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish (v.17), but as He comes walking on the water, calming the storm. Is it any wonder that Jesus ‘insisted’ that they get into the boat?
Oftentimes, God allows us to go through life’s storms so that we too can truly know who He is. Yes, He is capable of letting us know who He is in simple ways, but it often takes something big for us to really know that we know that we know who He is!
If it seems as though Jesus is insisting that you get in the boat so you too can go through a temporary storm, do it. I know it doesn’t sound exciting, but I promise you one thing—He will watch over you, come to your rescue and you will know for a fact that He is who He says He is—God’s one and only Son, the Great I AM.
Sometimes the storm is the only way God can get through to us.
Rising with the Son 