Discipleship: More Than a Story
By Scott Krippayne
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that
the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
God does not always calm the storms in our lives. His timing may be different from ours.
He most certainly is in control and has the power to calm any storm, but may not always respond
the way we want him to or the way we think he should. But we must remember that he is God we are not. He sees a bigger picture than we do.
Let’s look again at the disciples’ dilemma (Matthew 8:23-27). The storm was in full force,
and they went to Jesus for help - they wanted him to save them. The disciples were afraid they
might drown - they were afraid for their lives. And what did Jesus do? He talked to them. He
addressed their “little faith”; he inquired about their fear. If I were a disciple on that boat, I would
be scared to death and dumbfounded. Waves were washing over the boat and Jesus wanted to
talk about their lack of faith! Unbelievable.
This was a crisis - at least the disciples saw it as a crisis. Yet Jesus spoke first, then got
up, and then calmed the storm. Why did he wait? He could have calmed the storm immediately
and then talked. What was his agenda? Was there a larger plan?
If we look at our own lives, we can see that our Lord doesn’t always calm the storms
when we might want him to. Sometimes, it seems, he doesn’t do anything. If God has the power
to calm the storms of life, why doesn’t he? I don’t know for sure, but there are a few possibilities.
God may want to teach us perseverance - how to press on through trials and tough times
and have faith that he is in control. God knows that life will be full of storms of all kinds and that
the ability to persevere is an important quality.
Maybe God allows the storms to continue so that he might increase our faith. This
process will not be an easy one; it will require the testing of our faith. God wants to build in us a
faith that is able to respond with a solid “Yes!” when he asks, “Do you trust me?” - regardless of
the circumstance or situation.
Also, when the storms of life are raging, we are likely to turn to God because that is when
we realize just how helpless we are. He desires that we look to him, that we follow him, and that
we trust him. When life is going smoothly, we sometimes think we’re standing on our own, but
when the storms rise up, we remember our need for God.
Or, God may want to show us that he is our refuge in the midst of the storm. He may be
teaching us that he is trustworthy and will never let us go - no matter how hopeless things may
seem.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s not even a question of why the storms continue. Maybe the
question is, “What now, Lord?” What do you want to teach me? Where do you want to take me?
How do you want to mold me? I hope I will learn to look at the storms of life and ask, “How do
you want to use this, Lord?”
God is in control, he will always do what is best, and he will be glorified. He may calm
the storms, he may let them continue, but he is God and we are not. He allows us to lean on and
rest in him. We are fortunate to have a God who is powerful enough to hush the winds and still
the sea but tender enough to calm his children in the midst of any storm.
More Than a Story – A Daily Touch of the Savior’s Love © 1998 by Scott Krippayne
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