The Safest Place to Be
Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. (Matthew 8:23)
When I read through the Gospels, I find it interesting how many times storms hit the Sea of Galilee. In a technical sense, Galilee isn’t a sea; it’s a large freshwater lake about thirteen miles long and seven miles wide.
However, the perils in the Sea of Galilee are infamous. One moment it can be sunny and calm, and moments later, a storm is brewing. This is due to its unique geography. Mountains with deep ravines surround the sea, which is well below sea level. The ravines serve as gigantic funnels that bring winds whirling down on the lake without notice. These gales, strengthened by a thermal buildup in the low valley, violently suck the cold air downward. This simply means that it can be smooth sailing one moment and horrendously stormy the next.
That was exactly what happened in chapter 8 of Matthew’s Gospel. As Jesus and the disciples made their way across this lake, a violent storm suddenly came upon them.
In the same way, storms will unexpectedly come into our lives, spoiling our plans. Most of us don’t like storms: they hit with great force, and we don’t know how long they will last. We call on the Lord to stop the storms, and sometimes He does. However, sometimes, instead of calming the storms, the Lord strengthens us through them.
The disciples had no reason to panic that day because Jesus was with them on the boat. When Jesus Christ is in your life, you have no reason to be afraid. You’re safer with Him in the night than you would be alone in the daytime. You’re safer with Him in the storm than you would be in a quiet, restful place.
It’s better to be with Jesus in any circumstance than to be anywhere else without Him.
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