Find Rest & Healing with Us (12)

What Do We See in a Storm?

Storms can be frightening, with howling winds, torrential rain, and menacing lightning. Storms happen in life, it is not a matter of whether it happens or not, but when. These storms might come in the form of an accident that leaves you in a wheelchair, chronic diseases that worsen over time, or depression from the loss of a loved one. The list goes on.

There’s a story about a storm recorded in the Bible in Matthew 14:22-33. The disciples followed Jesus’ command to sail in the lake of Galilee, moving to the other side of the lake. And a storm hit them when they were halfway. They were in the wave for hours and the storm seemed to never end. At midnight, Jesus came in rescue, walking on the water. To calm the disciples on the boat, who mistakenly thought He was a ghost, He said: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27. Peter, the only one who answered Jesus, was commanded by Jesus to come toward Him. Peter walked on the water for a few steps but was scared by the storm and began the sink. Jesus immediately caught his hand after he cried out to Him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31. The storm stopped when they got into the boat.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” II Corinthians 5:7. Feeling scared, insecure, and sorrowful is our natural response when facing a storm. That’s because what we first see in a storm is the rain, the wind, the lighting. But there is hope in a storm, it is our Lord Jesus Christ. He comes to the rescue. He was neither waving on the shore and telling the disciples to come back nor sailing in another boat to get close to them. These are the worldly ways that we know and even to the point we believe there’s no other possible way. Instead, He walks on the water, what a miracle! But sadly, as recorded in the Bible, the disciples mistook Jesus as a ghost. When we encounter a storm in life, we are often lost sight of hope, even when hope is right in front of us. What might you have missed?

Despite that the disciples are experienced fishermen and should know sailing well, they can barely move the boat forward in the storm. It is definitely not a bad thing to have worldly knowledge and experience, but our experience (“sight”) sometimes makes us draw a negative conclusion too fast and too firm. Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter when He was walking toward the disciples on water? “Come.” Matthew 14:29. Jesus didn’t tell Peter to come into the storm, instead, He told Peter to come to Him, so that he can be saved. Don’t give up hope, Jesus is always with us!

Come join us to learn how to see Jesus even in a storm. We look forward to seeing you and worshiping our true God together. Join us in the upcoming Fall Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC) in September.

Thursday, September 26, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM

Friday and Saturday, September 27-28, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM

Sunday, September 29, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM

Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.

Our church address is as follows:

4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
 Google Maps

In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.

Friday Evening Service:  7:50PM – 9:00PM

Saturday Morning Service:  10:50AM – 12:00Noon

Saturday Afternoon Service:  1:30PM – 2:40PM

Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org