FEAR AND AMAZEMENT
Opening Prayer
Lord, Your presence and power fill me with amazement.
Read Luke 8:22–25
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 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. 23 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.
24 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. 25 “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.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In this passage we see two types of fear—one that is an expression of hopelessness, and one that is an expression of awe.An exhausted Jesus falls into a sleep so deep he is completely unaware of the raging storm. The panic-stricken disciples wake him (24) and immediately he stills the wind and the waves. Very few words cover what must have been a huge rollercoaster of emotions for the disciples, as the storm rages and they rush to wake their master. In the middle of it all is the calm of Jesus. He acts first and asks questions about their faith later (25)!
We all know fear. And in some situations, we can only hang on by the skin of our teeth.
Sometimes in the storms of our lives we long for Jesus to take it all away. But often he allows these experiences so that we see how God can act. Afterwards there is time to reflect on how he worked in a situation.
In verse 25 the disciples’ fear is still there, but it is of a very different kind—no longer of the elements but an awe-filled awareness of Jesus himself and what he has done.
Apply
What is the scariest situation you have ever been in? Were you aware of God’s presence with you? Thank him that however frightened we may be, he is with us, and he will act.
Closing prayer
: Lord God, You are our life jacket in the storms of life. Keep us mindful that we are always in Your care and that You will save
us and rejoice over us.
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