One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us 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.”

Luke 8:22-25 NIV

Jesus kindly spoke to me through these verses one day this week when I was struggling in my own storm. Feeling hard pressed on many sides, the wind and waves surrounding me felt overwhelming, and I was struggling to look beyond them.

Many of the things going on weren’t new, I had prayed about them and thought I had entrusted them to God! Yet on this day, I had no peace and just yearned for some breakthrough and relief from all that was happening.

In his abounding kindness, Jesus invited me to rest in the storm with him instead of struggling in it. In these verses from Luke we see that the disciples were consumed with the wind and the waves, and let fear rule in their hearts in the storm. This is in stark contrast to Jesus, who was asleep and at rest in the bottom of the boat, totally at ease, not for one moment worried by the storm. 

Where do you want to be in the storms in your life? 

Jesus graciously invites us today, ‘Come and rest with me in the midst of your storm!’ 

But how do we truly find rest in the storm? I believe Jesus tells us this through the question he asks the disciples in verse 25 – ‘Where is your faith?’ Clearly he is indicating that this is what they are lacking in this situation. If the disciples had faith in God, they would not be panicking. Faith is our key to being able to rest in the storm.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

Without faith, there is no rest, because you are not confident God will bring you through, so you fear and worry! Jesus completely trusted in his Father. In John 5:19, Jesus says he only did what he saw his Father doing, so we can be sure that Father God led Jesus to cross the lake. Therefore Jesus had faith that Father God would get him to the other side, whatever storms or obstacles came to oppose him along the way.

As we live our lives yielded to God and are led by him, we too have to trust him and have faith in him regardless of what we face along the way. Some days that is easier than other days, as assuredly, the storms will come! Yet we have to choose to believe and be confident in where God is taking us in our lives, as he wants to lead us into all that we hope for. 

As I looked at my own faith, I realised I had to change my language around what I was hoping for because it was showing me where my faith was lacking. I often felt certain of God’s ability and power to change a situation, but sometimes doubted that He would ‘come through for me’ and bring the victory. Instead of just declaring God ‘can’ do this, I began to declare God will change this situation. 

Declaring ‘God will’ = confident expectation in God! I’m choosing to have faith and believe not just that He can do something but that he actually will do it! I have decided to be confident that he will do all He has promised and trust that I actually will see the things I have long hoped for begin to manifest in my life.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

True faith and confidence in God is all that is needed to truly come into rest and peace, whatever is going on around us – because God truly is greater than any storm. Our perspective has to shift from the storm, onto Jesus and remain there. Only then can we remember, only one thing really matters and that nothing else we need compares to him.

Though the storm surrounds me, I will not be moved. My heart cries Yeshua! He is enough for me. I will rest with him and let the storm pass by, going where ever he shall lead me.

I would love to end the blog post there, in that place of rest and trust that I desire to live from, yet often when I’ve received revelation from the Lord, its not an instant fix. I have to choose to walk this out with him daily and on some days it is just really hard! My eyes just seem to drift to the wind and the waves, and I feel the unrest stir in my soul… All I can do is turn to him continually and ask for help.

If you are also struggling to find rest in the storms in your life, pray this prayer with me if you would like to:

Help me, Jesus, to focus on you and rest with you in the storm. Shift my gaze onto you and you alone. Give me the strength I need to trust you and rest in your promises, no matter what it looks like and feels like. Thank you Lord for your unfailing kindness and unwavering faithfulness, I know I can rely on you. I give the storm to you, I put it all in your hands and receive your invitation to rest with you, Jesus, in the storm. I let go of the storm and needing things to change. I choose your presence and your rest. Let the storm rage. I shall be still and know you are God. I choose to trust you today.

Though oceans roar, You are the Lord of all
The One who calms the wind and waves and makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way, the mountains move into the sea
The nations rage, I know my God is in control
Lyrics: Psalm 46 – Shane & Shane