Week of November 30

Sometimes it takes a storm to teach us about the peace that Christ provides. This section in Matthew’s gospel elevates divine awareness in both Jesus’ disciples and those who would later read the book. Jesus fed 5000 people, thus showing that He is the “Bread of Life,” and then He calms the wind and waves to show that He is Lord over all nature (15:13-32). Our minds may wonder where God might be and why He does not still all the storms that helpless people face. Let’s seek an answer in our passage today.

The calming of wind and waves offers us a vital lesson in trust, despite the overwhelming circumstances we face. I feel deep heartbreak over the people across our nation and the Caribbean who have seen the power of both wind and floods in recent weeks. They know firsthand the horror of natural calamities. Such catastrophes accent our frailty and finitude, a fact which is almost obvious to the point of offense because we all know it! However, what we know and often deny is that we too often expect to live in the perpetual sunshine, as though these limitations did not exist. Do you agree? The point is that we really do need the Lord in our lives—all the time. However, I believe that Jesus’ lesson was about even more than this important truth.

Jesus, as God, is all-knowing. Jesus, being God, does not have to be physically present to be watching over us (14:23-24; cf. John 11:21; “If you had been here”). Jesus obviously knew what was happening, because He observed their struggle with the waves and the wind. He saw the need and came walking to them across the stormy waters. We fight the waves and winds and fires and whatever, but this does not mean that Jesus has turned a blind eye to our situations. 

Jesus is ever-present. Secondly, we should notice that Jesus did not immediately calm the wind and quiet the waves. He demonstrates that He is not only Lord “over” nature, but He is Lord “in” nature (14:25-32; v. 32, “the wind ceased”). The disciples were oddly more terrified at his approach on the waves than they were of the breakers (14:26)! Why wouldn’t He be there? Well?! Let me explain. My mind races ahead to the crucifixion where darkness fell across the earth and God seemed to be so terribly absent. He was, however, powerfully at work, breaking the back of evil over that wooden cross. I conclude that God is powerfully present in our hardship and suffering. 

Jesus reveals Himself to us. The Lord makes Himself known most clearly in the moments when we are most helpless. Jesus says, “Take heart; it is I.” Jesus says literally, “I am” (cf. Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 43:10; 51:12). His Divine self-disclosure came in the middle of their great moment of trial. Notice, too, that it may come in times of quiet as well (Mark 8:27-30; 9:2-7). Isn’t this the greatest position of strength? To look for Him out of our weakness? The point is to be leaning upon the Lord in all the circumstances of life (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Some of my most meaningful moments in life occurred when I felt the most powerless and I would hear my earthly father say, “Come here.” His voice and his arms wrapped around me provided me with all the comfort I needed. 

Here is the spiritual point. The wind and waves around your life should not prevent you from hearing the Lord say to you, “It is I. Come here.” We may trust Him completely in every situation we face.

1. Take time to compile a list. I know that these activities take extra minutes, but lists help us to visualize the truths that we aim to apply from these devotionals. Write down your biggest life “storm” right now. Write down how you have been viewing the wind and waves. Now, insert the Lord into the middle of your calamity. Hear Him say, “It is I.” He will guide you through.

2. For Families: One of my favorite activities when I, Larry Ashlock, spent the night at my grandmother DuPlantis’s house was building houses out of cards, then trying to topple them by blowing hard (wind) and shaking the table (earthquake)! I rebuilt those houses each time they fell and tried to find ways to strengthen them. You may play this game with your children, and, as you are building and rebuilding, provide a testimony of how God has helped your family through tough times!

Our children need to see us turn to the Lord, whether the sun shines or the rain pours. Notice that I write “see” us and not only “hear” us. I have reminded my adult children more in recent years of my “less and less.” In other words, I have testified to the truth that anything good and right that has emerged from our family life was because God stooped and stayed with us through it all. Model the power that comes in daily trust in the Lord, and your children will learn how to build houses (lives) that stand strong in the storm (Matthew 7:24-27). 

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock