Calming the Storm - Luke 8:22-26

Today's passage brings to my mind so many stories of my childhood when late night storms struck so much fear in my heart that I truly believed that the morning would never come. I also think of adult situations where it seemed the storms of life were so overwhelming that I could not see how the blue sky could ever return. I believe that we all can probably relate to those feelings and some of us my be experiencing those storms right now.

Luke 8:22-26: One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

I am interested to know how today's passage makes you feel. How do you feel, when you hear Jesus rebuke the wind and the raging waters; when you see the calming of the storm; and, when He disappointedly said: "Where is your faith"? In my life, I have put so much faith in myself and my own abilities that I have doomed myself to fail time after time. Recently, I started to recognize that I cannot calm a storm. I do not have that ability. Like when I was a child, I can ride out the storm or take protective measures but I alone do not have the power to overcome the tests and tribulations that I face everyday. Only, Christ can calm the storms. Have you ever thought: Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

I read a song written by Scott Krippayne this morning and I thought that it might be helpful with today's study:

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place