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Directly after the miracle of the loaves and fish, Jesus compelled the disciples to get into their boat and go across the Sea of Galilee. 

The disciples had been battling a vicious storm for perhaps as long as 12 hours and their options for safe passage to their destination had run out. When Jesus was on the mountain communing with the Father, maybe He was praying for this group of a dozen disciples whom He had chosen. Perhaps He was hoping that these men who insisted on walking by sight and not by faith had learned a lesson or two by now. Maybe He had been hoping they would remember the words He had spoken the last time they had been caught in the middle of the sea by a tumultuous storm:Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39)

Storms have a tendency to go to the heart of our issues and pull up either doubt and disappointment or faith and hope. These disciples were in the direct path of this particular storm simply because they had obeyed Jesus. They were there by divine direction. The Lord had placed them in the path of this immense, killer storm. There is no storm this side of heaven that is a surprise to the One who made the winds and the waters. 

The disciples in this little boat were over three miles away from the safety of the coast from which they had sailed. The natural eye is unable to see three miles away, especially with the added challenge of stormy winds and ferocious torrents of rain. Yet, although the disciples could not see Jesus, He could see them! 

When Jesus saw that the disciples were afraid, He did not correct them, nor did He discipline them. He encouraged them. And still, Jesus had not calmed their storm. The tempest continued to rage out of control and create a monstrous threat to their lives. In the same way, before Jesus deals with the storm of your life, He will first confront your fear issues. Jesus has come to you in the storm to bring you His courage! 

My friend, know that in the midst of your raging and brutal storm, Jesus will come to you. You might not recognize Him at first, but He will, indeed, come because He has promised that He will never leave you or forsake you.