Friday, July 14, 2023
Into the Storm
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. (Matthew 14:22 NLT)
Typically, we want to avoid storms. Pilots, for example, fly away from storms, not toward them. But there are times when storms can protect us.
In three of the four Gospels, we find the account of Jesus walking on the water to reach His disciples. But that event followed the most popular miracle that Jesus ever performed: feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with only five loaves of bread and two fish.
The people thought Jesus was someone they could follow because He not only healed people, and even raised some from the dead, but also fed them. In fact, they wanted to make Him king by force.
As a result, Jesus sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee, away from that situation. And then Jesus slipped away by Himself to pray.
Meanwhile, a huge storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, which grew worse and worse. Finally, during the fourth watch of the night (around 3:00 a.m.), Jesus came walking to them on the waves.
So, how was that a protecting storm?
Jesus was protecting His disciples from something that could have destroyed them. If Jesus had allowed the people to make Him king by force, the disciples would have been pulled into it. They were ambitious men, and on more than one occasion, they argued about who would be greatest in the kingdom.
It was a diversion. It wasn’t part of God’s plan. So, Jesus protected them. And the storm they feared actually was a barrier that kept them away from what could really harm them.
When we’re experiencing success, we can be more vulnerable than when we’re facing failure because we can become prideful. Success can be as dangerous as failure—or sometimes even more dangerous.
Maybe you’re experiencing a protecting storm in your life today. God’s thoughts toward you come from a motive of love. He has a plan and a purpose for you.
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