Calming the storm was one of the miracles Jesus did. It’s recorded in Matthew 8, Mark 4 and Luke 8. (Note this was not the time Jesus walked on water. That was another boating adventure the Gospels added to his resume a little later.) At first glance it might seem the Gospels are teaching that our peace depends on the storm ending — that we can be in peace OR in a storm, but not both. But there is a better lesson here. Please give the song a sing-along listen and come back for a chat on how peace and calm and storms relate.

Jesus slept

Matthew 8 tells us:
“Then he [Jesus] 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!”

No doubt at least some on the boat were fishermen with plenty of experience on these same waters. For them to be afraid they were going to drown, this must have been quite a storm. Needless to say, they were not asleep. But Jesus was.

Same storm, same boat — very different reactions. How do we account for that?

The disciples judged the storm to carry more power than they knew themselves to have, and that made them afraid.

Jesus, on the other hand, knew himself to carry more authority than the storm — so he napped.

There was a happy ending. Thanks to that storm, the disciples got to experience a mighty miracle, learned more about the Lord and went from being afraid to being amazed. They experienced first hand that “calm” can be found in the middle of a storm. It depends on what you are packing. In this case, they had Jesus on the boat.

If the disciples had understood what it meant for Jesus to be on their boat, they might have been able to catch a few winks during that storm, too. Just imagine how many people since then have — in the midst of some kind of storm — found peace and calm, confident this same Jesus was on their boat.

Thanks to the storm

Storms have their use. The path to finding peace in a storm does not necessarily include getting rid of the storm. The lesson here is that regardless of the size or strength of the storm, in Christ Jesus we have a mightier — and very present — help.

Consider these verses. Notice they don’t promise us lives without trials. Look at what they say about preparing for trials and resources available for us to overcome.

Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
[Psalm 144:1,2]

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
[Ephesians 6:13]

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
[James 1:2-4]

The Lord partners with us and our learning in personal, remarkable ways. Romans 8 speaks of us being “more than conquerors” in Christ. Nowhere have I read the Lord encourages people to become better pouters, doubters or down-and-outers.

A quick check on the world-wide ‘net gadget pops up many quotes to ponder on ways people might actually benefit from storms.

• “Don’t wait for the storms of your life to pass. Learn to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
• “Every storm runs out of rain, just like every dark night turns into day.” — Gary Allan
• “The little reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over.” — Aesop
• “A tree with strong roots can withstand the most violent storm, but the tree can’t grow roots just as the storm appears on the horizon.” — Dalai Lama
• “The eagle does not escape the storm. The eagle simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It spreads its mighty wings and rises on the winds that bring the storm.” — Jack White
• “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” — Willa Cather
• “Sometimes a storm in your life is what will blow you to the place you are longing to be.” — Beth Moore
• “No one would have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm.” — Charles Kettering
• “Fate [the enemy] whispers to the warrior, ‘You can not withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’” — Unknown
• “Fix your course on a star and you’ll navigate any storm.” — Leonardo da Vinci
• “Storms draw something out of us that calm seas don’t.” — Bill Hybels
• “In order to realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm.” — Corrie Ten Boom
• “Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempest.” — Epicurus
• “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” — Louisa May Alcott

Christ in you

To have the Savior in our boat would awesome beyond words, right? But how much more to have — as Colossians says it — Christ in you, the hope of glory ?!?

You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. [1 John 4:4]. When the Lord is in it, the storm is not just ours alone but is the Lord’s business, too.

Storms may roar in us — anxiety about health, finance, our past, present or future.
Storms may rage in the world around us — secularism, moral degeneracy, injustice.
But through it all, remember our Lord and Savior is in it all — and Jesus can calm any storm.

God bless you lots
-Dale R.

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Download this song sheet

LYRICS: Jesus Can Calm Any Storm
Song by Dale Reichel (2024)
Inspired by one of Billy Graham’s many daily devotions

1. Jesus can calm any storm.
His disciples saw the tempest and were scared.
They saw the big waves roll, and felt the bad winds blow,
And Jesus slept right through it so they doubted that he even cared.
Jesus can calm any storm.
It’s still true today, even when rescue seems remote:

CHORUS:
We have the water-walking, dead-man raising,
Ever-loving, so amazing,
Savior in our boat.

2. Jesus can calm any storm.
He can quiet every storm that comes our way.
Let the big waves roll, let the bad winds blow.
If we need health or wealth or peace – whatever, he can help today.
Jesus can calm any storm.
Oh, what treasures the Bible writers brought us when they wrote:
[Chorus]

3. Jesus can calm any storm,
Even storms of a world gone astray.
Let the big waves roll, let the bad winds blow.
He’ll overcome the darkest night and bring a glorious new day.
Jesus can calm any storm.
It’s by grace, so when we sing his praise, we really should not gloat:
[Chorus]

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