I don’t have to tell you that sometimes in life, we find ourselves in the middle of a storm. I mean, we’ve all been there, right? The circumstances might look different: a medical diagnosis, a family conflict, a job loss. But we’ve all experienced that moment of realizing, “I’m in over my head here. I don’t know what to do next. And that kind of scares me.”
What are we supposed to do when we find ourselves overwhelmed by life?
So what are we supposed to do when we find ourselves overwhelmed by life? Should we ride things out? Find shelter? Seek higher ground? (I live in a storm-prone part of the United States; weather metaphors are my bread and butter.) Does the Bible have anything to tell us about what we should do when we’re afraid?
It absolutely does. In the gospels, Jesus’ disciples encounter a massive storm on the Sea of Galilee and turn to Jesus in their fear. What He does next reveals both His care for His followers and also His power over everything in nature.
Where Is the Story About How Jesus Calms the Storm in the Bible?
This story can be found in all three of the synoptic gospels: Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25. For this article, we’ll look specifically at Mark’s account of the story.
Story Summary of Jesus Calming the Storm
- After a full day of teaching, Jesus tells His disciples to sail to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
- While at sea, their boat is hit by a massive storm, with waves so large that the boat is nearly swamped.
- The disciples, in a panic, go to Jesus, who is sound asleep on a pillow in the stern of the ship. They wake Him, asking whether or not He cares that they might drown.
- Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind, and tells the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Immediately, the Sea of Galilee becomes calm.
- Then Jesus turns to His disciples. He asks why they were so afraid, and if they still have no faith.
- Jesus’ words leave the disciples “terrified” as they question who Jesus really is.
The Main Point of the Story of Jesus Calming the Storm
Jesus calming the storm shows us that when the storms of life fill us with fear, we can find rest in Jesus, the One who controls all things.
3 Lessons From the Story of Jesus Calming the Storm
1. Jesus Followers Aren’t Exempt From Life’s Storms
Sometimes, as Christians, we can convince ourselves that we should be able to bypass the struggles and difficulties of life. I mean, we’ve chosen to follow Jesus! He made all things and holds all things together! Shouldn’t relying on Him mean living an easier life?
But that wasn’t what the disciples experienced in this story. All of them had left things behind in order to follow Jesus. They were with Him every day, in the flesh. And yet, they still found themselves in the middle of a storm so large that they thought they might perish.
That also wasn’t what Jesus experienced during His time on earth. He left behind heaven. No one was better connected to God the Father than He was. And yet He experienced struggles and adversity, was falsely accused, and was ultimately put to death on a cross.
Before His death and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples:
“... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
All of us will encounter our fair share of trouble. But hope isn’t to be found in our present circumstances.
Jesus wanted to prepare His followers—then and now—for the reality of what they would face while following Him. All of us will encounter our fair share of trouble. But hope isn’t to be found in our present circumstances. Hope is to be found in the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf on the cross. He overcame the world, and now, no matter what storms we face in the present, we can have hope for the future.
Consider: How can you remind yourself of the hope you have in Jesus when you face one of life’s storms?
Jesus’ Response to Our Storms May Surprise Us
When we face a storm, our first response might be to go to God and ask for help. And we can get pretty specific about how we think this help should look. We might ask God to cure us of a particular illness immediately, or resolve a conflict between family members, or drop our dream job in our lap.
Sometimes God will give us exactly what we’re asking for. But a lot of the time? His response will look totally different. He might say no. He might ask us to wait. Or He might do something totally unexpected.
The disciples in the boat just wanted Jesus to be awake. With every new clap of thunder and gust of wind, the chances of their boat capsizing grew higher. They wanted Jesus by their side, alert and showing equal concern over their situation and working with them to keep the boat upright. But Jesus’ plan was far beyond anything the disciples could have imagined.
When we’re afraid, God wants us to talk to Him. He even wants us to tell Him about our hopes for the future. We can trust that God will always take care of us. We just have to remember that His care might look (very) different from what we expect.
Consider: What do you need to talk to God about? How can you remain open to His response to your situation?
Check out this prayer guide full of example prayers.
Jesus Is Always in Control
When the storms of life are really raging around us, it’s easy to feel as if everything is out of control. This can impact us in all kinds of ways—we might try to take control of the situation ourselves, or we might shut down entirely. But no matter how out of control this world might seem, Jesus is always in control.
We see it on full display in this story. With only a few words, Jesus took command of nature itself. The storm clouds rolled away. The wind ceased. The water became completely calm.
That kind of power could only belong to God. And the disciples, even if their minds weren’t fully able to grasp the full truth of Jesus’ identity in the moment, knew the man standing in front of them was no ordinary human.
Jesus showed His complete control over creation in this story. And it’s the same control He still possesses today. No matter how chaotic our lives may seem, we can trust that Jesus is on the throne, holding all things together, and working for our good. He is worthy of our faith and trust.
Consider: The next time your life feels like it’s spinning out of control, how could you put your trust in Jesus?
Common Questions About Jesus Calming the Storm
Why was Jesus asleep on the boat?
Probably because He was tired! Mark 1-4 details how busy Jesus had been up to this point. He’d chosen His disciples, performed miracles, encountered pushback from both the Pharisees and His own family, and taught crowds of people through the use of parables. Mark 4 tells us that, after a full day of teaching, Jesus opted to sail across the Sea of Galilee in the evening. He was probably more than ready for a little shut-eye.
Why were the disciples “terrified” of Jesus after He calmed the storm?
Different translations use different words to describe what the disciples were feeling after they watched Jesus calm the storm. Some say “terrified,” some say “feared,” and some say “in awe.” All of these words point to the disciples beginning to realize that Jesus was much, much more powerful than they had originally given Him credit for. Imagine if you were an ant, encountering a human for the first time. There’s a difference in power there that’s hard to even comprehend.
Why did the disciples ask one another who Jesus was? Didn’t they know?
This story takes place early in Jesus’ ministry, and His disciples haven’t been with Him long; Jesus only selected them in the chapter before. And Jesus didn’t make a point of publicizing His identity during His years of ministry. In Mark 8, when Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus instructs him to tell no one. The disciples figuring out that Jesus was the Son of God was a slow process.
Reflect or Discuss
To wrap up, let’s take a few more moments to consider the questions listed earlier in the article:
- How can you remind yourself of the hope you have in Jesus when you face one of life’s storms?
- What do you need to talk to God about? How can you remain open to His response to your situation?
- The next time your life feels like it’s spinning out of control, how could you put your trust in Jesus?