When the Winds Die Down

Was it a coincidence that the gale-force winds that had been battering the disciples all night long died down at the exact moment that Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat (Matthew 14:32)? I don’t believe so.

I think there is a significant lesson in the timing. What is the reason the winds ceased at that moment? They ceased when they were no longer needed. They had served their purpose. The Lord had a plan in mind from the moment He told the disciples to cross the lake. And His plan required high winds and rough seas.

Paul was no stranger to storms. Despite following God and spreading the gospel, he experienced immense persecution and misfortune. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, we see only a partial list of the obstructions he faced as he followed the instructions of the Lord. Yet, he endured.

So, what should we do when the winds die down? Our first inclination is usually to celebrate the end of the storm. There is nothing wrong with that, but we need to do more. When the winds die down and our fight or flight instincts fade, we can think more clearly and focus on the big picture. What is the Lord trying to teach me? What is He preparing me to do? What is my calling? When many people think of a “calling” from God, they envision the call to preach or pastor a church. Only a small fraction of believers are called to these assignments. But every follower of Christ is called to use their gifts and influence to spread the gospel and impact the lives of others.

The storm that the disciples feared would destroy them was actually being used by the Lord as prep for their next step. At that time, none of them understood the scope of God’s plan to use them to change their world. So, when the winds die down, some good questions to ask might be, “Lord, what is my next step?” “What are You preparing me to do for Your kingdom?” “How can I grow from this experience?”