Trusting Jesus in the Middle of the Storm
Even in the fiercest storm, our rest is anchored in Jesus.
Devotional Credit:
My Utmost for His Highest – The Theology of Rest by Oswald Chambers
Photo Credit:
Unsplash
In today’s devotional, Oswald Chambers points us to a truth that cuts through our tendency toward panic in life’s storms. He reminds us that Jesus has every right to expect His followers to rest in perfect confidence in Him, no matter how fierce the winds may be. Chambers contrasts two ways of responding when fear grips our hearts: the reaction of those who do not know God, and the steady trust of those who know Him intimately.
He draws from the moment in Matthew 8 when the disciples, terrified in the boat, assumed that Jesus was either unaware or unconcerned. They were certain they were going to drown. In that moment, their fear revealed a lack of confidence not just in Jesus’ ability to act, but in His very heart toward them. Yet, with a single rebuke to the wind and waves, Jesus showed that the situation had been under His control all along.
Chambers invites us to consider the quiet joy that Jesus would have had if His disciples had trusted Him in the storm. How different their hearts—and ours—would be if, in the middle of difficulty, we saw the trial as an opportunity to honor Him with steadfast confidence. It is a reminder that faith is not tested in the still waters, but in the moments when the storm seems most certain to sink us.
Ultimately, Chambers affirms that God’s will is not simply to keep us afloat but to bring us into a place of deep, abiding rest in Him. This rest is not an idle absence of trouble, but an unshakable oneness with Jesus where our hearts are aligned with His, and our trust brings Him joy.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am with you in the calm and in the storm. Do not measure My presence by the stillness of the waters. I have not promised a life without waves, but I have promised that you will never be without Me. My peace is not the absence of wind; it is the certainty of My rule over it.
When you fix your eyes on the storm, fear will rise and confidence will sink. But when you set your heart on Me, you will know that nothing can separate you from My love. I am the One who calms the seas, yet I am also the One who can keep you steady even when they rage.
Your trust brings joy to My heart, for it is the fruit of knowing Me. When you choose confidence instead of panic, you declare that I am enough. Let your faith be rooted not in your ability to handle what is ahead, but in My life within you. I am your anchor in uncertainty and your rest in the trial.
Scripture References: Matthew 8:23–27, Isaiah 26:3, Romans 8:38–39, Psalm 46:1–3, John 16:33, Philippians 4:6–7, Colossians 3:15, Hebrews 13:5–6
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a glass of water placed on a sturdy table during an earthquake. Everything around may shake, but if the table remains anchored, the glass will not topple. Our lives are like that glass. The world may tremble with uncertainty, yet when our hearts rest on the solid foundation of Jesus, we remain steady.
Today, when circumstances threaten to unsettle you—whether it is an unexpected bill, a tense conversation, or troubling news—pause and acknowledge His life in you. You can quietly affirm, “Lord, I trust You to steady me and work through me in this moment.” In doing so, you are choosing to remain anchored to the One who cannot be moved.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, thank You that You are my peace in every storm. I praise You that my safety does not depend on calm seas, but on Your unchanging presence. I rest in the truth that You are with me, You are for me, and You are in me. Whatever comes today, I stand anchored in You, confident that nothing can shake the life we share.