How to Stay Calm In The Midst Of The Storm

In the Gospel of Matthew, there’s a short yet powerful story about how the disciples of the Lord found themselves in the midst of a furious storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat with Jesus.

Matthew 8:23-25 (NLT): “Then Jesus entered the boat and began to cross the sea with his disciples. Suddenly, a strong storm broke out, with waves entering the boat; but Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to wake him up: ‘Lord, save us! We are going to drown!’ they cried.”

These disciples had witnessed miracles, healings, and the extraordinary presence of the Messiah. Yet, in the face of this terrifying storm, they panicked and forgot everything they had seen and experienced. Their reaction mirrors our own when we encounter life’s tempests.

Why is it that we tend to forget that Jesus is with us in the midst of our storms? The same Jesus who could command the elements to be still is with us during our trials. His power and authority remain unchanging (Hebrews 13:8).

In that boat, Jesus was peacefully asleep, seemingly oblivious to the raging tempest. Why didn’t he respond to their cries? Because he had unwavering faith and trust in his heavenly Father.

Matthew 8:26-27 (NLT): “‘Why are you afraid?’ asked Jesus. ‘You have so little faith!’ Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed and asked, ‘Who is this man? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'”

Jesus questioned his disciples’ fear and lack of faith, and with authority, he commanded the storm to be still. Can we find rest in the midst of life’s storms and challenges? The key to a fulfilling life is unwavering trust in God, no matter the circumstances. We must maintain a living faith, recognizing that the Lord is with us. He is capable of calming every storm that comes our way, even the internal ones that no one else sees.

Our faith should be firmly anchored in Him. The more we understand Jesus and his ways, the greater our confidence in facing difficult times. We can not only believe that He can transform our situations through His divine power but also recognize that He has given us the authority to confront and overcome our fears through the confession of His Word.

Jesus brought order to chaos with his words, and we, as imitators of Christ, can do the same. We’re never alone or afraid in this life because God is in our boat. With Him, we will safely reach the other shore, and His presence will be with us every day until the end (Matthew 28:20).

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

The story of Daniel in the lion’s den is a well-known biblical narrative from the Book of Daniel. In this story, Daniel’s unwavering faith and trust in God are tested in a life-threatening situation.

King Darius of Babylon appointed Daniel as one of his administrators because of his exceptional qualities and upright character. Daniel’s success and integrity made him the target of jealousy among his colleagues. They conspired to have the king issue a decree that forbade anyone from making petitions to any god or man other than the king for 30 days.

However, Daniel continued to pray to his God three times a day as he had always done, despite the decree. His colleagues caught him in the act and informed King Darius, who was distressed by the situation. According to the law, he had to throw Daniel into a den of hungry lions.

Before being cast into the den, Daniel assured the king, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they have not hurt me because I was found innocent before Him.”

Miraculously, when Daniel was cast into the lion’s den, the hungry beasts did not harm him. God had indeed sent an angel to protect him. The next morning, King Darius rushed to the den, fearing the worst. To his amazement, he found Daniel unharmed. The king then praised the God of Daniel and issued a decree throughout his kingdom declaring the greatness of the God of Daniel.

The story of Daniel in the lion’s den serves as a powerful testament to faith, courage, and the unwavering protection of God. Just as Daniel trusted in God’s deliverance in the face of mortal danger, his story inspires believers to maintain their faith even in the most challenging and life-threatening situations.

Unshaken Faith of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the Book of Daniel is a powerful narrative that can be related to the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

In the biblical account, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young men who remained faithful to God even in the face of a life-threatening situation. They were thrown into a blazing furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar because they refused to bow down to a golden idol. Their unwavering trust in God was evident as they declared their faith, saying, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it.”

Just as the disciples on the stormy Sea of Galilee were filled with fear and doubt, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a life-threatening situation. However, their faith remained unshaken. In the midst of the fiery trial, they believed that God could save them. Similarly, when the disciples faced the storm, they momentarily forgot that Jesus had the power to calm the tempest.

The connection between these two stories lies in the theme of unwavering faith in the midst of adversity. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted in God’s deliverance, and their faith was rewarded as they emerged unharmed from the fiery furnace. Likewise, when Jesus rebuked the storm, the disciples witnessed His divine authority over the elements.

Both stories remind us that in the midst of life’s storms and trials, we should maintain our faith and trust in God, knowing that He has the power to bring calm to the chaos. Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found peace in the fire, and the disciples found tranquility on the stormy sea, our faith in God can carry us through the most challenging times in life.

Also Read: Why Darlene Left Hillsong? Finding Faith and Worship Through Trials

It also reminds me of a beautiful scripture in Psalms 46:10 wherein it says

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

So be it Daniel or be it Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego one time or the other each one of us have to go through trials and its our faith which is the only weapon which could save us from any kind of dangerous situation. Be Still or Stay Calm amidst storm of the life, however worse the storm may be remember God has the way out when you trust him fully.

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