Storms of life

Our sermon this morning was simple but spoken with such conviction by a very young pastor who has had his share of storms in his life.



He spoke on Matthew 8: 23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, 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!"



Have you ever really thought about this little situation?? Here you have men who were very comfortable in boats and on the water. They were fisher men so they must have seen storms before, but this storm was especially horrible, and Jesus was sleeping through it! With waves washing over the boat and soaking Jesus as he slept!! His human state left him exhausted from talking with the crowds and he needed sleep. He had already told the disciples they were going to the other side of the lake but they forgot that part and were so scared they feared for their lives.



We have storms in our lives too, some devastating, some just another trivial trial to deal with, then there is illness, job loss, financial strife, the list can go on and on. But we have Jesus to calm the storms. He knows every thing we are dealing with and wants us to run to him. He knows we are weak, He knows the end of the story and sees the big picture, He is with us the whole time. We just have to trust in His strength that He has the answers and will see us though. He comforts and gives us a peace that surpasses all.



I mentioned that this young pastor has had his share of storms, he has been married a few short years but for the last three years his wife has been battling her own storm, fighting cancer. It has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, having chemo, fighting pneumonia and almost loosing that battle, needing a bone marrow transplant, and now fighting graft verses host disease, she has developed diabetes from medications that are needed to fight the GVHD. I could go on and on of what she has gone through and is dealing with daily. Her testimony has been incredible, continuing to believe that God has this all under control and she just keeps trusting and witnessing in any way she can to anyone she encounters. This couple has held onto the hand of Jesus as the waves crash into their boat day after day for the last three years. Only the strength of God can calm those kind of waves. He spoke from experience and from his heart this morning touching the entire church. God was truly speaking through him from the pulpit.



We have a great God to fight our battles we just need to give Him the battles and have faith!!!