In the account of the storm in John chapter 9, we see Jesus send His disciples directly into a tumultuous situation. Oftentimes, we forget that Jesus knew about the storm long before it actually hit the Sea of Galilee. However, this was an intentional command to His disciples. From this account, we learn several key things about how God sees and handles the storms in our lives. 

1. God is Not Surprised by Our Storms. He knows they’re coming, and sometimes, He is even the one to send us into them. Jesus knew His disciples would face nine hours of grueling work, but He asked them to get into the boat anyway. When you’re in the midst of a tumultuous season, rest assured that what surprised you is no surprise to God. 

2. God is our only true shelter. The disciples came face to face with the reality that nothing—not their nautical skills, their strength, or other people—could save them from the storm. Many times, God allows storms into our lives to shake free the false trust we place in people or things other than God. When it comes down to life’s hardest trials, we find ourselves acknowledging the truth that only God is our true, eternal shelter.  

3. Storms Don’t Indicate You’re Going in the Wrong Direction. Just like the disciples were acting in obedience, you and I will sometimes find ourselves in the middle of a storm. It’s important to remember that storms don’t always indicate sin, disobedience, or a wrong direction. 

The most important thing to do in the middle of your storm is cling to God. Trust in Jesus, and, like the disciples eventually came to do, recognize that He has the ultimate power in your situation. He may not always choose to immediately stop the storm, but He is always in control. 

Live Big!

Dr. Derek Grier