ARE WE EXPECTED BY GOD TO CALM THE STORMS?
When reading the Gospel stories, few scenes are as dramatic and unforgettable as the storm on the Sea of Galilee in Matthew 8:23–27.
Picture it: seasoned fishermen, used to the moods of the water, are now panicking as waves crash into their small boat, winds howl, and the vessel threatens to sink. Meanwhile, Jesus is asleep. Not restless, not anxious, but calmly asleep. When they finally wake Him, He rises, rebukes the storm, and an eerie, perfect calm settles over the sea. The disciples are left in stunned awe, whispering to one another:
“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
This powerful story has raised countless questions through the ages. Are we, like Jesus, meant to calm the storms of life? Does His miracle here set a precedent for us? Or is there something deeper at work?
Let’s explore this passage and its profound meaning by addressing some key questions.
How could Jesus be sleeping in such a life-threatening storm?
The scene emphasizes Jesus’ true humanity. After long days of ministry, teaching, and healing, He was physically exhausted.
But more than that, it reveals His divine confidence: Jesus rested with complete trust in the Father’s plan, utterly unshaken by the danger around Him.
While the disciples were overwhelmed by external chaos, Jesus embodied internal peace, undisturbed even when water was splashing into the boat. Yes, He likely got wet, but His peace was not circumstantial; it was rooted in His identity and mission.
Was Jesus waiting for the disciples to approach Him before helping?
Jesus’ apparent delay wasn’t neglect but purposeful…
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often allows His disciples to come face to face with their limitations so they might learn to trust Him more deeply. His waiting allowed them to experience their own helplessness and then witness His sufficiency. The lesson wasn’t about their own abilities; it was about WHO was with them.
Is Bill Johnson’s teaching correct?
Bill Johnson of Bethel Church teaches that Jesus’ miracle demonstrates how we, too, can calm the storms in our lives by cultivating inner peace. He suggests that Jesus was able to rebuke the storm because “the storm was not inside Him — He had peace within,” and that this internal peace allowed Him to bring the external chaos into alignment.
Johnson implies that if we nurture the same inner stillness, we will likewise be able to speak to and subdue the storms around us. However, this interpretation not only oversimplifies the passage but also misapplies its central message – this reading misunderstands the text!
Jesus calming the storm is not primarily about human spiritual techniques or levels of peace; it’s about Jesus’ unique divine authority. The point is not that we learn to “do as Jesus did” by copying His techniques, but that we learn to trust who Jesus is.
When modern teachers turn this passage into a formula for supernatural performance or self-empowerment, they are placing burdens on believers God never intended…!
Was the storm demonically influenced because Jesus “rebuked” it?
While the Greek word for “rebuke” is often used in exorcisms, the passage doesn’t suggest this storm was demonically caused. Matthew’s emphasis is on Jesus’ sovereign command over the natural world. Whether natural or supernatural in origin, all forces obey Him.
Why did Jesus rebuke the disciples for being afraid?
Fear, in itself, is a natural human reaction, but Jesus’ rebuke targets their lack of faith. The disciples had seen Jesus’ miracles and were following Him by His command, yet they still doubted His ability to preserve them. The issue wasn’t their emotional response but their failure to trust Him despite His presence, promises, and the evidence of it they’ve already witnessed.
Did Jesus expect the disciples to rebuke the storm themselves?
There is no evidence in this and related passages that implies that Jesus expected His disciples to command the weather.
His rebuke focuses not on what they should have done outwardly, but on what they failed to do inwardly: trust in Him. Their mistake was assuming that, even with Jesus in the boat, they were destined to perish. Their faith was too small to grasp the security they had simply because He was with them.
What was the ultimate goal of this miracle?
The goal was revelation. The miracle revealed Jesus as the Lord of creation, the One who commands even wind and sea.
The disciples’ stunned question, “Who can this be?”, shows that the storm was a stage on which Jesus’ divine identity was put on display. This wasn’t about demonstrating techniques; it was about unveiling the King.
Was this revelation of Jesus’ identity timed by God for this specific moment, and what impact did it have?
Yes, this revelation came at a divinely appointed moment in the disciples’ training. Up to this point, they had seen Jesus heal sickness and cast out demons, but here they encountered something even more staggering: His command over the forces of nature.
This would have reshaped their understanding of who He was and deepened their sense of awe and dependence on Him. For their ministry going forward, it reinforced the truth that their mission was not built on their own strength but on His power and presence.
For us today, this revelation calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus in every storm and every challenge — not merely as an example or moral teacher, but as the sovereign Lord over all creation. It invites us into worship, trust, and deep rest in Him, reminding us that no storm, no circumstance, and no force we face is greater than His authority.
Did the disciples accuse Jesus…?
In Mark 4:38, the disciples cry out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” This isn’t just a plea for help; it’s an accusation questioning Jesus’ concern for them…!
His response addresses not only their fear but also their misunderstanding of His character. Jesus challenges their view of Him as distant or indifferent and calls them to trust not just in His power, but in His heart.
For us, this speaks deeply: when we face storms, it is easy to accuse God of not caring. Yet Jesus’ presence, His sacrifice, and His ultimate authority remind us that He cares far more deeply than we often realize (Romans 8:32). The record of this event calls us to surrender both our fear and our doubts about His love.
Comparing Biblical Meaning vs. Popular Charismatic Misapplications
| Aspect | Biblical Meaning | Charismatic Misapplication |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the Miracle | Reveal Jesus’ divine authority over nature | Teach believers how to perform similar miracles by tapping into inner peace or faith |
| Focus of Faith | Trusting Jesus Himself and His presence | Developing enough faith or peace inside oneself to control external situations |
| Who Holds Authority | Jesus, uniquely, as Son of God | Believers, if they develop and exercise faith correctly |
| Application for Believers | Trust in Jesus during life’s storms; rest in His sufficiency | Learn to “speak to storms” or command situations by faith |
| Central Message | Jesus’ divine identity and discipleship call to trust | Human empowerment to do supernatural works by mimicking Jesus |
| Nature of the Event | Sovereign miracle rooted in Jesus’ identity | Prescribed model for believers to follow |
So, Are We Expected by God to Calm the Storms?
The clear answer is: no. God does not expect us to command nature, rebuke storms, or supernaturally control life’s hardships through sheer faith, inner peace, or declarations. Instead, He calls us to trust Him, knowing that He is with us in every storm, whether He calms it or carries us through it.
The lesson of Matthew 8:23–27 is not about human performance but about divine sufficiency. It is about learning that our security is not in our abilities but in Christ’s presence and power. Faith is not a lever to manipulate reality; it is a resting place in the One who holds all things together.
This revelation, both then and now, invites us into worship and surrender. It reminds us that knowing who Jesus is anchors us far more securely than knowing how to calm any storm ourselves.
As Christians, we are called not to master the waves but to follow the One whom the waves obey.
