sokin's devotional 59 - God alone stills the storm

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

John 6:16-21

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Jesus walking on water wasn't just a magic trick that Jesus was performing, but rather was a direct indication of His divinity and power. Jesus is God and is able to do the impossible. The phrase, "It is I" can be translated into the greek which in other contexts mean, "I am." (ESV study bible). Jesus is fully God and the ability to walk on the rough waters was a powerful indication of His sovereign, supreme ability. And the phrase  "don't be afraid" which immediately follows the declaration of His identity, is also a reminder for us that although our circumstances may seem bleak and uncertain, there is no fear to be had when we have Almighty God in our boat. It will never sink!

Immediately after Jesus gets on the boat, the Scriptures say that the boat reached the shore they were heading towards right away. This can suggest that Jesus stilled the storm once he stepped foot onto it, much like the other story where Jesus was sleeping on the boat and stilled the storm amidst the disciples going crazy and thinking they were going to die.

God alone stills the physical storms of life, but surely we must also rest in the fact that had Jesus chose not to still the storm they were in, the boat would've made it to shore nonetheless. That even in the most perilous of storms, God can and will guide us through - as long as we keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus, the great navigator of our faith and it's perfecter.

He alone is able to still the storms, but also carry us through the storms.