Jesus Calms the Storm | Matthew 8:23-27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm suddenly arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

---

Not so secret in the dark: I struggle with anxiety. I have since I was a child, before I knew there was a word to call what I experienced. All I knew was the fear, worst case scenarios, racing heartbeats, and inability to move or think rationally. This is my own personal storm, sometimes entirely of my own mind's creation. I know I’m not alone in this struggle (and neither are you). Some days it is like the windstorm is everything we’re trying to handle in life and our peace of mind is being swept away by the waves. We relate to the disciples in these moments, feeling as if the entire outcome is out of their control. It can be so hard to see past the storm. It feels impossible to imagine a calm on the other side.

The disciples are afraid and have little faith in their safety during this storm. Jesus calls them out on this, saying “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” But when waking up Jesus, this passage shows that they do, in fact, have faith. They have faith in Jesus to save them from the storm. They don’t wake Jesus up saying ‘abandon ship’, they wake him up saying ‘save us.’ They’re asking Jesus to do what they can’t… to calm the storm. What they didn’t realize, and probably why Jesus calls them out for having little faith, is that Jesus would have kept them safe, awake or asleep.

It is easier to get caught up in our struggles than to trust that Jesus will see us through to calm waters. Especially when we feel that Jesus is sleeping right through our storm. But he will always see us through to the calm! God works through people and places around us, like Pinecrest(ers), to remind us “Why are you afraid? I’m still here with you. I am always here with you!”

Action: At camp, we talk about “Yay God” moments. We celebrate moments where God’s presence is felt through the actions, words, or interactions with others. The anxiety may still exist, but recognizing these moments help us feel God’s presence. It helps us to have faith even when it feels like Jesus is asleep on the boat. It helps us to remember that we are never alone!

Consider how or where you felt God’s presence today. Maybe share your Yay God with others! Try making this a regular practice to feel more connected with God and how they work through you and those around you.

Prayer: Jesus, you are the calm in the storm, even when we do not realize it. Just as the disciples on the boat, we sometimes need a reminder that we are not alone. Help us to feel your presence and love in our lives, and help us to be your presence and love for those around us so they also know they are never alone! Amen

Deacon Tanya Lee Behnke (she/her)

Calvary Lutheran Church, Hauppauge NY

Current Business Manager (2012-Current)

Camper (1996-2010)