Daily Devotional For Saturday, October 4, 2025
Good morning Southside! We are continuing our look at Matthew 8:23-27:
“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. (24) Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. (25) The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ (26) Jesus responded, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. (27) The disciples were amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked. ‘Even the winds and waves obey Him!’” (NLT).
To do this story right, we are going to broke it up into 2 parts. Part 2 is today, Saturday. Literally, when the storm hit Matthew uses these two words to describe the storm [σεισμὸς μέγας, megas seismos]. This storm was shaking the boat so intensely that it was about to shake apart with them in it. So, it does seem odd doesn’t it that they said this after Jesus calmed the storm, “Who is this man? Even the winds and waves obey Him!” What was the lesson Jesus wanted them to learn and us as well today.
Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll says this on this passage: “Do not become a disciple of Jesus and follow Him if you fear the storms of life more than the Lord of life” (Source: Charles R, Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, “Matthew 1-15,” p. 156).
In other words, if storms, whether emotional, psychological, spiritual, or physical cause you to sink in them, then you have the wrong theology and faith. We learned from Mark 4:35 it was evening. This was typically a good time to sail because most storms came in the afternoon. This storm hit them at night, making it even more terrifying. This is a small sea. It is 13 miles long and 7 miles wide and 150 feet deep at its deepest. Today, these same storms can create violent waves up to 20 feet in height. The danger to them was just as real as the waves pummeling them.
They had no idea Jesus had power over nature and just like they may have felt this was a storm beyond God’s help, we too at times feel the same way about our own storms. Did you notice that before Jesus rebuked the storm, He rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith? The word He used to describe their fear was [δειλός; deilos], which refers to “cowardly fear.” They were acting like cowards when they should have been acting in faith. They wanted Jesus to do something and He wanted them to trust Him.
In the end, being with the human merciful Jesus was fine with them, but being with the omnipotent God in human flesh terrified them. Notice they asked, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the waves obey Him.” This would only be one of many storms they would face. Eventually, they all would face the storm of Roman persecution and martyrdom. Though they were struck down, they did not sink down.
So, what can this story teach us? First, sometimes Jesus is the only One who can help us. No matter how bad the storm is, we believe that God is always in control. When we exhaust all of our resources first, God has not even started yet. Hopeless storms are the perfect storms to trust Jesus completely. Faith is tested in storms and they really reveal what we think of the Lord. Even if the Lord does not quiet our storm, we will get through it because He is in the boat (storm) with us.
Assignment: When storms come your way, how do you typically react? Do you run to the Lord and pray, or do you panic in fear acting like Chicken Little? Do you rely on yourself, your own ingenuity, your own experiences and knowledge or do you just throw yourself on the mercy of the Lord. Think back over storms you have weathered. What did the Lord teach you through them? Did you learn the lesson? What storms do you think the Lord allowed you to go through with Him and why?
Scripture To Meditate On: Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, when storms come I don’t always see You in them with me. I can quickly turn to other means to get out of them thinking, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Lord, this is so sinful and useless. Whether or not you shut the mouths of the “lions” as with Daniel, or protect me in the “fire” as with Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego or calm the sea as with the disciples, I will trust You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly