Jesus in the StormSample

I AM in the Storm.

The disciples were exhausted. It was the middle of the night, and they were straining at the oars, battling wind and waves. This was their second storm, and Jesus was not on the boat with them this time. I wonder what was going on in their minds this time. We know from Mark 6:48 that they didn't know that Jesus "saw" them. This is the first truth to hold onto when you feel "alone" in the storm. Don't let your emotions be your truth barometer, as they are often not based on truth but perceptions. Mark 6:48 then ends with a very weird statement, "Jesus had intended to pass by them." For those with abandonment fears, these words could be very triggering.

The phrase “pass by” echoes a deeply biblical pattern. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, the Lord replied, “I will cause all my goodness to pass by you” (Exodus 33:22). When Elijah was hiding on the mountain, weary and afraid, “the Lord passed by” (1 Kings 19:11). To pass by was not a rejection, but a revealing of His Glory to summons a deepening faith. Remember the words of Job when wrestling with suffering, proclaimed, “He alone treads on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). This was no ordinary walk. It was a divine encounter—a revelation of who Jesus truly is.

It doesn't end there; the revelation of Jesus goes even deeper.

“I AM” — these two words are far more than a simple statement of presence. They are a profound declaration of divinity. When Jesus said, “Take courage; I AM here” (Mark 6:50), He wasn’t merely saying, “I’m nearby.” He was unveiling His identity.

The Greek phrase used—ego eimi—is the same sacred name God gave to Moses at the burning bush: “Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). It’s the eternal name of Yahweh, the self-existent, unchanging, all-powerful God.

And Jesus unapologetically uses it of Himself again in John 8:58, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” He wasn’t just claiming to exist but to be God.

So when Jesus walks on the water and declares “I AM,” it’s more than reassurance—
it’s revelation. It’s His answer to the disciples’ terrified question in Mark 4: “Who is this man?” The storm didn’t just bring fear—it brought the answer. “I AM.”
The One who split seas for Moses, passed by Elijah in power, and treads the waves in Job, was now walking on water towards their boat.

Here’s the truth nugget: Some of the most intimate revelations of God happen in the middle of the storm—not before it, and not after it, but in it. He may not always remove the storm immediately, but He will always reveal Himself if you have eyes to see.

Reflective Questions:

• What storm are you in where you feel like you are “straining at the oars” by yourself?
• What assumptions are you making in the storm, when it feels like you are alone?
• How would your experience of the storm change if you truly believed Jesus sees you, even before He speaks or steps in?
• What is Jesus revealing about Himself to you amid your storm?

Prayer:

“Jesus, in this storm, give me eyes to see You.” When the waves are loud and the night feels long, remind me that You see me, just like You saw them. Help me recognise the moments you “pass by”—not to leave me, but to reveal more of yourself. I choose not to filter Your presence through my fear of abandonment but through the truth of who You are. Forgive me for the stories I tell myself that don’t reflect Your heart. Replace fear with faith, anxiety with awe, and panic with peace. Reveal Yourself, Jesus—treading on the storm, whispering "I AM.” I desire that this is not just a moment of survival but a moment of sacred encounter. Amen.