Jesus Calms The Sea- Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 8:23-27
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Matthew 8:23-27
“(23) And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. (24) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, inasmuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. (26) And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:23-24
“And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. (24) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.”
Blind Faith
In the beginning of this passage, the disciples are eager and willing to follow Jesus without question, but the moment the journey became uncomfortable, they began to allow fear and panic to overcome them.
Bumpy Seas
When we follow a life led by Jesus Christ, we should be prepared that there will be tempestuous seas along our walk in faith. This is not a “What If Bumpy Seas Arise,” but it’s more like “When the Bumpy Seas Arise.” But don’t get disheartened by the thought of hardships or bumpy seas; these challenges will come, but being a child of God allows us the benefits of our Heavenly Father. We are protected by God’s hand, in that anything that we may face, we should look at either as a faith-growing opportunity or as a chastisement of our sinful, chosen lifestyle. Whichever it may be, it is for our own benefit and to strengthen our faith and relationship with God.
Bumpy Seas Arise
Our Heavenly Father gives us the tools and resources that we need to overcome any challenge or “Bumpy Sea” that we may encounter. First, we have God’s Sword! We have the Word of God, the very thing that is a weapon against satan and the fallen angels. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He showed us how to defeat satan, by using God’s Word! So to be prepared for Bumpy Seas, we must study God’s Word and be ready! Remember, satan has been around a lot longer than we have; he knows how to pervert or twist God’s Word just right to change the meaning, so know the Scriptures! If you have a hard time understanding a passage, ask God to help you better understand it!
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105 KJV
Armor Of God
The popular armor of God! We did a study on the armor of God recently; you can find that here. The armor of God reminds us that God is our protector in all things physical and spiritual. After all, who is the better One to protect us than the Almighty Creator Himself! The armor of God reminds us how to protect our minds, and not only protect, but also wield the weapon that we can fight spiritual battles with: the Word of God. Ephesians 6:11-18 is where you can find the armour of God, how to use it, and apply it to everyday life.
Matthew 8:25-27
(25) And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. (26) And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. (27) But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
Waking Jesus
Do you ever feel at times you are alone? You against the world? If you are a child of God, this is the exact lie that satan tells you, mind-spiritual warfare. Half our battles begin in our thoughts. God does not give us the spirit of fear; it’s okay to have that overwhelming feeling, but when you recognize its presence, get into God’s word, pray, and know that’s not the plan for you that God has. God often shakes up our comfort zones; this keeps us active and prepared for what journey we may experience. Everything happens for a reason in a season.
Fearful Disciples
Imagine being in the disciples’ situation; did they really think the Son of God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, would allow them to capsize? If I had anyone at my side, it would be Jesus! We should look at our troubles the same way and apply that to today! We may not be in a boat, but if God wants us to be somewhere at a certain time, nothing happens by accident! In this situation, it was to teach the disciples a lesson on fear and how to overcome it. Why would Jesus or God allow such a storm? Is He being cruel with a bad sense of humor? NO! This is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and the news is spreading; therefore, the enemies they face will also increase. This is a lesson to the disciples: do not fear! When we allow fear and rogue imaginations to overcome our thoughts, we are putting limits on what God is capable of doing.
Let The Storm Come
With God, all things are possible! Fear has no grip on those who are in close fellowship with God. Fear is a lie of “What if it could happen,” and we could miss out on the amazing miracles that God is capable of revealing to us.
“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” Psalms 56:11
God Our Father
God is our Heavenly Father. He wants us to depend on Him so our needs are met. “I have a job; I can pay that myself and care for it myself.” Yes, but who opened that door for you to have that job? Who gives you the strength or knowledge to perform those tasks, or more simply, who woke you up this morning? Let us be grateful in all things, knowing that with the way life goes, in the blink of an eye it can all change dramatically! Let us never think we have become so great that we don’t need God. When life is good, we need God. When life is hard or challenging, we need God. When life is uncertain, we need God.
We are not meant to figure it all out; God already knows the outcome for which chosen path we decide upon. We are not meant to carry all the burdens we do. How much are you carrying on your shoulders, or what are you capable of? Why not lay those at God’s feet, pray, and ask Him for the best way? He will help us through all things, the small and great challenges we encounter.
Learning Life Lessons
Have you ever watched a young toddler try to dress themselves? They struggle to figure out which arm goes in which shirt opening or which shoe to put on the correct foot. As a parent or grandparent, we stand back and just observe, because they eventually need to learn this skill for themselves, but if you rescue them each time, how will they learn? Have you ever felt like you keep repeating the same scenario or challenge in life and can’t seem to get beyond that lesson? Perhaps we haven’t learned what God needed us to learn the first time.
We are much like that toddler! Being stubborn in nature to figure it out on our own without our parents’ help, when we keep trying the same thing over and over without making progress, it’s time to take our situation to God! We only know our personal perspective with added emotions; God knows a better way! He can show us what we are unable to see on our own. God is omniscient; He sees our beginnings, past, present, and our future. He knows what is best for us, and often He will allow us to experience certain things in our lives so that we can learn from them, and this is when our faith and trust in God strengthen!
What is God teaching you today? Every challenge has the opportunity to allow God’s greatness and light to shine through.
Before you go, let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Forgive me of my shortcomings; allow my thoughts to be clearly expressed when You reveal amazing messages and devotions through Your word. I ask that You forgive me for my sins and help me where I fail You. Being a saved sinner saved by Your grace does not mean perfection, but through Your grace. Let us be more aware of challenges we face from the day-to-day happenings of our lives. Let us rebuke fear in Your name; may we remember where confusion and fear come from and stop to reconnect with You, Father, so that we may overcome those circumstances we may face. Bring to our remembrance to be grateful in the good and bad, always be prepared during “bumpy seas,” and know that You are at our side each step of the way to show us You are in control of all things. Thank You, Father, for this devotion, to remind us that even in the worst of storms, You are with us; You will never leave us or forsake us. Thank You for being such a great Heavenly Father. I ask that if one doesn’t know You as their Savior, they will call out to You. Today is the day for Salvation; no matter what has been done, Jesus paid it all on the cross.
We ask this in Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.
Quick note:
Some Bible studies may take longer than others, as I am often led to explain certain verses in greater detail. I want you to know that these blog posts are written straight from my heart - they are not created by AI, so if you pay close attention, you may find my little nuggets of imperfections! What you read here are my own thoughts and reflections, guided by God, who leads me.
I am not a professional; I’m simply a southern wife and mother of five with a deep desire to share the truth of our loving Heavenly Father. He loves you, and He longs to have a relationship with you. We are not called to perfection, but we are called to be led by Him and be consistent.
God has placed so much on my heart to share, and my prayer is that these words bless and encourage you. I’m not here for recognition or fame - only to spread the message of God’s love to you, my new friend, and to our Creative Journey growing community.
