Audio By Carbonatix

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Into the Storm

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’” (Matthew 8:23–25 niv)

The film The Perfect Storm tells the story of an actual storm off the coast of Massachusetts in 1991—in fact, the strongest storm in recorded history. This so-called perfect storm was the result of three storms that combined into one, creating an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic Ocean. Two existing storms were hit by a hurricane, ironically dubbed Hurricane Grace. The combination of these three weather elements produced a monstrous, two-thousand-mile-wide hurricane that triggered one-hundred-foot waves.

In Matthew 8 we find a story of Jesus’ disciples facing what could be described as a Hurricane Grace of their own. We are told that Jesus “got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping” (verses 23–24 niv).

Notice that verse 23 says, “His disciples followed him” (niv). And where did that lead? Right into a storm. This storm came because the disciples obeyed the Lord, not because they disobeyed Him. Sometimes when troubles come, we say that it’s a result of disobedience. But it may be that the storm is a result of obedience.

God can use the storms in our lives to accomplish His purposes. As the saying goes, the same hammer that shatters glass also forges steel. Sometimes it seems as though it would be better if we never went through a storm. We think life always should be easy. But there are things we learn in storms. There are things we learn in hardships and crises that we don’t learn anywhere else.

For one thing, we learn what we’re capable of—or, more specifically, what God is capable of, working through us. Until we’re faced with a crisis, we can only guess at our potential. In the eye of the storm, our potential is realized. We expand our concept of what our faith can accomplish.

For another, we learn what genuine dependency on God feels like. Many people approach the Christian faith cautiously. They’re not as apt as Peter to jump out of a boat onto a choppy sea to walk with Jesus. Instead, they prefer to keep at least one foot in their comfort zone. Storms have a way of obliterating our comfort zone. We have no choice but to rely completely on God.

And for another, we learn how to help others who are struggling. Our storm-tossed struggles give us experience and legitimacy. Instead of offering sympathy, we can offer empathy. We can be valuable to others because we know what they need. 

Where there are no trials in life, there are no triumphs. God has His purposes in the storms. And just as Jesus was with His disciples, He will be with us, too.

Reflection question: What have you learned from storms in your life?

Copyright © 2025 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author, and movie producer. His latest film ‘Jesus Revolution,’ from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, is now available on-demand worldwide.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.

Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.

In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of Tame Your Thoughts by Max Lucado.

Do your thoughts ever feel out of control? You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck. In his new book, Tame Your Thoughts, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado helps you identify toxic thinking and replace it with the truth of Scripture. Clear and compelling, this book outlines biblical tools to help you stop unhealthy thought patterns and find peace, perspective, and joy in Christ. Request your copy of Tame Your Thoughts with your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.

Click here to find out more!

Audio By Carbonatix

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Into the Storm

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’” (Matthew 8:23–25 niv)

The film The Perfect Storm tells the story of an actual storm off the coast of Massachusetts in 1991—in fact, the strongest storm in recorded history. This so-called perfect storm was the result of three storms that combined into one, creating an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic Ocean. Two existing storms were hit by a hurricane, ironically dubbed Hurricane Grace. The combination of these three weather elements produced a monstrous, two-thousand-mile-wide hurricane that triggered one-hundred-foot waves.

In Matthew 8 we find a story of Jesus’ disciples facing what could be described as a Hurricane Grace of their own. We are told that Jesus “got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping” (verses 23–24 niv).

Notice that verse 23 says, “His disciples followed him” (niv). And where did that lead? Right into a storm. This storm came because the disciples obeyed the Lord, not because they disobeyed Him. Sometimes when troubles come, we say that it’s a result of disobedience. But it may be that the storm is a result of obedience.

God can use the storms in our lives to accomplish His purposes. As the saying goes, the same hammer that shatters glass also forges steel. Sometimes it seems as though it would be better if we never went through a storm. We think life always should be easy. But there are things we learn in storms. There are things we learn in hardships and crises that we don’t learn anywhere else.

For one thing, we learn what we’re capable of—or, more specifically, what God is capable of, working through us. Until we’re faced with a crisis, we can only guess at our potential. In the eye of the storm, our potential is realized. We expand our concept of what our faith can accomplish.

For another, we learn what genuine dependency on God feels like. Many people approach the Christian faith cautiously. They’re not as apt as Peter to jump out of a boat onto a choppy sea to walk with Jesus. Instead, they prefer to keep at least one foot in their comfort zone. Storms have a way of obliterating our comfort zone. We have no choice but to rely completely on God.

And for another, we learn how to help others who are struggling. Our storm-tossed struggles give us experience and legitimacy. Instead of offering sympathy, we can offer empathy. We can be valuable to others because we know what they need. 

Where there are no trials in life, there are no triumphs. God has His purposes in the storms. And just as Jesus was with His disciples, He will be with us, too.

Reflection question: What have you learned from storms in your life?

Copyright © 2025 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author, and movie producer. His latest film ‘Jesus Revolution,’ from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, is now available on-demand worldwide.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.

Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.

In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of Tame Your Thoughts by Max Lucado.

Do your thoughts ever feel out of control? You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck. In his new book, Tame Your Thoughts, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado helps you identify toxic thinking and replace it with the truth of Scripture. Clear and compelling, this book outlines biblical tools to help you stop unhealthy thought patterns and find peace, perspective, and joy in Christ. Request your copy of Tame Your Thoughts with your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.

Click here to find out more!