In the Midst of the Storm

I think most people who are experiencing any kind of fear automatically think that’s a bad thing. That it’s a sign of weakness or maybe even a lack of faith. I don’t believe that. In fact, I believe…

Anything God leads you to do will initially involve some level of fear .

A lot of us grew up with this idea that if you were obedient to Jesus, everything was going to be great. If you were obedient to Jesus, you’re not going to have to go through storms because Jesus would never do that to you.  But look at this story.

Matthew 14:22-24

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Who sends the disciples into the storm?

Who allows them to float right into the midst of a really scary situation?

Jesus does, right?

The reality is that sometimes Jesus will sometimes willingly allow you to walk into a storm, because it’s in the midst of the storm that He gets our full attention.

The disciples would have to learn—as do we—that obedience is no guarantee of being spared adversity.

But now that the storm had their full attention, Jesus decided it was time the disciples got to know him a little better and that often happens when we’re forced to lean into him.

Is it possible that maybe you’re exactly where God wants you to be right now? Is it possible that God might want to use this situation or this circumstance to teach you something new about Him?