"But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God."
Matthew 14:24-33
Last year in February, I was reading through the Gospels again, and came across this passage that I have heard taught and preached many times. What is incredible about the God's Word is how certain passages take on different perspectives as you live. As the journey God has placed you on has its twists and turns, the passages begin to hit a little differently. We often focus on Peter and the fact that He had the faith to walk on water or maybe that he took his eyes of Jesus. Maybe we focus on the fact that the storm continues to rage until the Jesus stepped in the boat with them. We see that trials or storms maybe the opportunity for Christ to reveal Himself through us to others around us.
This time reading it, my attention was solely caught on Jesus. I began correlating storms I've faced in life with how that has directed me more towards Christ. I cannot imagine walking through life's difficulties without Christ. With Jesus in the storm, you can weather any tempest. You can sail through that storm no matter how rough the ways or dark the sky is because Jesus is with you.
Storms are not for your defeat or your punishment. Jesus is not sitting in heaven determining how to make you miserable and destroy your life. But rather, storms shift our focus. It gives you a renewed vision of life and helps you center your life deeper into Jesus. When we stop struggling to fight our way through the storm or to where we want to be, and rather allow the Jesus to guide us through it, it is used to point others who may be in it with us or looking on to see the Savior. Our life becomes a reflection of Son of God as we are drawn closer to Him.
You can find mercy amidst the storm. There is peace that comes from hearing His voice. It washes over us with a calm assurance that He is in control. In His presence, we have safety and shelter. Why? Because of Jesus. You see, He has charted out your life. He has determined the joyous moments and the storms. He knows what storm is planned and at what time in your life it will take place. He knows the middle of the storm and the end of it. It will not be the end of you if you let Jesus guide you through it rather than fighting against it.
Every person is facing storms. Some storms last years, some for a few months or days. You may experience several at one moment. We are all familiar with the phrase "when it rains, it pours." And yes, sometimes you sail through multiple, but He is there. Though those waves continue, remember Jesus is there showing His love and seeking to draw you near to Him.
When I wrote this song, I was in a storm I had been in for several years. Long storms can exhaust you. They can become so dark that you feel it will never end. And while it has yet to end, Jesus has reminded me over and over that I can rest in the storm. That His mercy is new every moment of the storm, and I am never alone in it because Jesus is always there.
Friend, whatever storm has begun on the horizon or is raging today, you can find mercy, peace and safety in the storm because of Jesus.
It is our prayer that this song encourages you today! If your looking for encouraging music to play over and over, find this song on the album "Because of Jesus" or follow us on streaming to listen to our albums. You can also find the sheet music on our website: https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/mercy-in-the-storm
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