Matt. 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21
The disciples had just witnessed something incredible—Jesus feeding thousands with just a few loaves and fish. It was a miracle that should have cemented their faith, an undeniable sign of God’s power at work. And yet, when night fell and the storm rolled in, their faith faltered.
Sometimes, a miracle is not enough.
It’s one thing to see what Jesus can do. It’s another to truly know who He is. And in this storm, Jesus would reveal Himself to them in a way they had not yet understood.
Faith in the Storm
After feeding the massive crowd, Jesus sent His disciples ahead while He went up the mountain to pray. They set out across the Sea of Galilee, but as night fell, the wind picked up. The waves grew stronger, tossing their boat like a toy in the water. They rowed, they struggled, but they weren’t getting anywhere.
Then, in the darkest hours of the night, Jesus came to them—walking on the water. He moved through the chaos, stepping over the waves as if they were solid ground. But instead of relief, the disciples felt terror.
They didn’t recognize Him.
Their fear spoke louder than their faith, and they thought He was a ghost. They cried out in panic, overwhelmed by the storm and the impossible sight before them.
But then came His voice—steady, strong, cutting through their fear like light breaking into darkness.
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
How often do we do the same? We get so caught up in the storm around us that we fail to see Jesus standing right in front of us. We assume He’s distant when, in reality, He’s drawing near.
What about when life feels chaotic? When prayers go unanswered? When fear seems more real than faith?
Jesus’ words to the disciples are His words to us: Take heart. I am here. Don’t be afraid.
A Hardened Heart
But there’s something unsettling in Mark’s account of this story. After Jesus climbed into the boat and the wind died down, the disciples were utterly astounded. Not because of the storm stopping—but because they still didn’t understand.
Mark tells us, “They did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”
That line stops me in my tracks.
They had just seen Jesus feed thousands of people with a few scraps of food. They had witnessed Him do something only God could do. And yet, when faced with another moment of crisis, their faith was still shaky.
It’s easy to judge them, but don’t we do the same?
We pray for provision, and God provides. We see Him move in our lives. We experience His goodness. And yet, the next time a storm comes, we panic as if He’s never been faithful before.
Why? Because sometimes, a miracle is not enough.
The crowd Jesus had fed was ready to make Him king—but for the wrong reasons. They saw Him as a provider of bread, but they failed to see Him as the Bread of Life. The disciples weren’t far off from that mindset. They were following Him, witnessing His power, but still not fully grasping who He was.
How small do we make God? How often do we limit Him to what we want rather than who He truly is?
Jesus Shapes Our Faith
Jesus didn’t calm the storm immediately. He let the disciples struggle. He let them row and strain against the wind for hours. And then, when the moment was right, He came to them.
Sometimes He does the same with us.
Faith isn’t just believing when everything is going well. It’s trusting when the storm is raging, when the answers aren’t clear, when the night is long. Jesus knew the disciples needed to go through this storm—not to break them, but to deepen their faith.
Even when they couldn’t see Him, He was watching. Even before He walked to them, He was praying for them. And when they thought all hope was lost, He came.
He always does.
The Only Response is Worship
Matthew’s Gospel tells us that when Jesus climbed into the boat and calmed the storm, something shifted.
The disciples worshiped Him.
And for the first time, they called Him “The Son of God.”
Not just a teacher. Not just a miracle worker. The Son of God.
In that moment, their fear turned into faith. They had seen His power before, but now they were beginning to understand who He truly was.
Isn’t that what happens when Jesus meets us in our storms?
We start to see Him not just as someone who fixes our problems, but as the Lord over all things. Not just as a giver of blessings, but as the only one worthy of our worship.
Let Jesus Astound You
Mark warns us that even those who are closest to Jesus can have hardened hearts. Even those who have walked with Him for years can still struggle to see Him clearly.
But Jesus is patient.
He knows our struggles. He knows our doubts. And He meets us in the storm—not to rebuke us, but to reveal Himself more fully.
So seek Him. Let Him overwhelm you. Let Him be the one who not only stills the storm but strengthens your faith.
Because sometimes, a miracle is not enough.
But Jesus always is.
