Matthew 8:24 (CSB)
Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves.
The storms of life can strike out of nowhere without any warning. At times, you can be sailing along through life, and then, boom, everything is in complete chaos. It’s important to remember that in Kingdom living, Jesus never promised us an uneventful or comfortable ride. What He does promise is a definite destination, where all the turmoil of this world will be a fading memory.
How we weather the storms of this life is a true measure of our faith. When the storm hits, where do we look? This is captured brilliantly in the painting “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt (click here to see it). In his interpretation, Rembrandt does a superb job of depicting raw emotion along with a profound spiritual revelation.
In this dramatic painting, we see the tiny boat at the mercy of ferocious winds and massive waves. Surprisingly, there are thirteen disciples in the boat. Why thirteen? Because Rembrandt painted himself into the scene. You can see him holding the rope with one hand and his unique beret with the other, looking directly at you. Close by, there's another disciple hanging over the edge of the boat, obviously overcome by sea sickness.
In this painting, Rembrandt is illustrating a fundamental spiritual truth. In the midst of the storm, some of the disciples are hanging on for dear life, depending on the boat to get them through the terror of the storm. While some of the others are gathered around Jesus with their eyes focused on the Savior, depending on Him to see them through the storm.
This powerfully illustrates how we live our lives.
The question is: What commands our attention when the storms erupt in our lives? Do we grab the ropes of fear and anxiety and start trying to navigate our way through the storm? Or do we, in faith, turn our eyes towards Jesus, trusting Him to see us through the storm?
From a Kingdom perspective, we know that every storm is under the sovereign authority of our Almighty God. The winds of the storm may howl, and the waves may crash, but we know our Savior is greater and more mighty than any storm.
People often say that they are either in a storm, have just come out of one, or are about to enter one. We need to always be prepared. Because most storms in life strike without warning. How do we prepare? By seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness every day (Matt. 6:33). This is why Kingdom living is essential. Because in Kingdom living, we have our hearts steadfastly focused on the Savior and not the storms.
Let Rembrandt’s painting be a reminder to you that while the waters in which you sail are calm, take the opportunity to move closer to the Savior. Because it's inevitable, a storm is coming, and when it hits, you need to be close to the Lord so you can focus on Him. For when you’re focused on the power of Jesus, you will not fear the power of the storm.