Let’s talk about Matthew 8:23-27, the story Jesus Calms the Storm. A quick recap – Jesus is asleep in a boat during a raging storm and his frightened disciples awaken him while shouting “We’re going to drown!” Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and the storm immediately became completely calm.
Now imagine the disciples actually learned all the lessons that Jesus was trying to teach them, and one day a few weeks later they find themselves and Jesus in the same boat, in the same body of water, but encountering a more violent storm. And once again, Jesus is asleep. But this time, the disciples look out at the storm, then back at Jesus, and then to each other. They smile, nod, and kick back to get comfortable. And one says, “Don’t worry; Jesus is in the boat with us!”
How wonderful it would be if we actually learned from the lessons Jesus taught. What gain have we lost by not realizing the trial was a lesson? What benefit is gone because we did not understand our suffering was for our own good? What confidence has been squandered because we conceded to fear? What joy could have been more joyful had we know we were receiving a blessing? What if we were always aware that Jesus is in the boat with us?