On a recent trip to the Shetland Isles, I had to take a 14-hour overnight ferry journey from Aberdeen to Lerwick. The weather had been so bad the night before the boat arrived 9 hours late into Aberdeen and the forecast was equally as bad for my trip north. Maybe I should have heeded the warning sign at the check in desk that read “Please be aware that bad weather is forecast for tonight’s crossing, it is at your discretion whether you travel or not.” Hardly a reassuring start to my trip!
Within minutes of the ferry leaving Aberdeen harbour the waves hit the boat. I was not prepared for the amount of billowing and rolling in the waves and by the crashing and banging coming from the galley, neither were they! After quickly finishing my dinner, I decided to head for the refuge of my cabin and hopefully some sleep. As I lay in bunk with my eyes closed, it felt as though I was on roller coaster and I still had over 11 hours to go, HELP!!
As I was lying there I was reminded of the story in Matthew 8 when Jesus calms the storms with the power of his words.
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27
As I was thinking about this story, I was in awe and wonder at the power of Jesus, he was able to calm the storm with only a few words! Part of me was praying that he would do it again right there and then!
All of us go through storms in life; loss of a loved one, financial pressure, redundancies and many other difficult situations. I don’t know what storm you are facing right now in your life, but what I know for certain is this:
No sin is so great that it hasn’t already been dealt with at Calvary!
No situation is so bad that God can’t turn around and use for his glory!
No life is so messed up and beyond hope that Jesus can’t transform into something amazing!
So whatever storms you may be facing today, trust in Jesus and His ability to calm the storm with only a few words.
Image Credit: Duncan Moloney
