Who is control?

In life, it’s a given, everyone at some point is going to struggle with something.  Recently i’ve been looking at how Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23-27.  In the early church the storm and the waves were often interpreted as being the storms and winds of trials and persecutions and the boat as the church.  Sometimes, life can get pretty stormy; in fact Matthew uses the Greek word for earthquake when describing the wind, so life can even get as bad as a natural disaster!  We know that the storm that Matthew describes was very bad in that the people on the boat were all experienced fishermen and yet the storm is so bad that they cry out to Jesus for help.  “Lord, save us!  We’re going to drown!”  Every so often, each of us feels as though we’re in this position and we want to cry out for help.  What’s interesting is Jesus reply to the disciple’s.  He gets up (from where he’s sleeping) and rebukes the wind and the waves and suddenly, everything becomes completely calm.  Jesus is in total control.  It’s nice to look back to this story for encouragement knowing that Jesus is in total control.  Even more so, those that have decided to follow him can rest in this security.

                I work for NYFC in Chilwell school and I don’t know how often you go into school but young people can be quite intimidating.  But I know that Jesus is standing there with me and is there and in control.  Initially I found my work in Chilwell quite difficult, but with Jesus i have seen how much easier trusting in him can make things.  What’s interesting about the final aspect of the calming of the storm is that the disciples respond to Jesus with amazement.  Why? Not only is this because they have witnessed the power of Jesus, but this is the first time in Matthew that he’s demonstrated control over nature.  In the Old Testament God performs many miracles, the parting of the Red sea for example.  Jesus is showing how much authority he truly has.  He has the authority of God.  In our struggles, we know that Jesus is ultimately in control and when he does something incredible, or works through our lives every day we see his authority and power for ourselves in new and incredible ways.  I look forward to seeing him work further in Chilwell and in NYFC.

Tim Stanyon is on placement with Nottingham YfC

He is currently studying theology at St. John's Nottingham