August 23, 2026 - Caught in a Storm
Scripture Reading — Matthew 14:22–33 (KJV)
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Sermon Summary
Give God the Honor First
The message began not with a point but with praise. He woke us up this morning, clothed us in our right mind, put food on the table when we were hungry and a cool glass of water in our hands when we were thirsty — and for all of that, the first thing owed is thanks. Before a single word about storms, the prayer was that the preacher would be hidden behind the cross, so that the church would hear and see only God. It set the tone for everything that followed: this is not about any one of us, but about the Lord who made our salvation possible at Calvary.
A Storm Is Something That Rearranges Things
A storm, we were reminded, is a change in the atmosphere — a stirring, a moving that rearranges things. So the question worth sitting with is this: what in your life needs to be moved today? What is buried deep down that needs to come to the surface? Every one of us knows something about storms. Either you are in one, coming out of one, or on your way into one. And they are not only out on the oceans and seas; some of the fiercest storms are raging quietly in the hearts of people all around us.
Storms Come to Clean Us Up
There was the memory of a terrible storm back in Hammond — the kind that would skip one house and tear into the next, that took the life of a neighbor, Miss Cornelius, and left a cousin clinging to a light pole just to keep from being blown away. As frightening as that was, it carried a lesson never forgotten: storms come to clean up. They clean out attitudes, pride, unforgiveness, and sin. They humble us so we can become the children God wants us to be. Without them we would grow self-sufficient, convinced we do not need God, content to live on flower beds of ease like the rich fool who said, “take ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” David knew better: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.” There is purpose in the storm — it is where we come to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection.
Even Jesus Needed to Pray
Look closely at the text and you notice that Jesus was not in the boat. He sent the disciples on ahead, dismissed the crowd, and went up the mountain alone — because He needed to pray. Having just fed the five thousand, He was poured out and spiritually drained; even the Lord needed to be refueled by God. If that was true for Him, how much more is it true for us. If we pray, we will stay; if we fast, we will last. Remember how the whole nation prayed after the towers fell on that September morning — and how quickly we let prayer slip once the crisis had passed. Prayer is the greatest power we have for the challenges of this life. Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Are you asking? Are you abiding? Are you praying?
Caught in the Storm
The disciples set out with good intentions and full obedience, probably still marveling — “what manner of man is this?” — over two fish, five loaves, and twelve baskets of fragments left over. And still they were caught in a storm. We know that place. There are financial storms and marital storms, family storms and the storm of shattered dreams, the storm of sickness and the storm of losing someone we love. Tossed to and fro in the fourth watch of the night, somewhere between three and six in the morning, in the dark with nothing to hold onto, they forgot that the One they were straining to reach was already Master of the sea. That is our mistake too: we make our problems bigger than our God, instead of coming to Him and saying, “I have a problem that only You can solve.”
Let the Storm Fuel Your Faith
A storm is meant to be fuel for our faith, not the end of it — for faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Prayer changes things: while you are still trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out. The storm will last only as long as it takes God to accomplish His purpose, and no longer — because the one He holds in the palm of His hand, the devil in hell cannot pluck out. Be like the eagle, who does not run from the storm but sets its wings, watches it, catches the very eye of it, and rises straight up into the wind. Jesus is greater than any storm — a very present help in trouble, a shelter in the time of storm, a rock in a weary land. He sees your tears and your restless nights, so cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
The One Who Calms the Storm
It all comes back to Jesus, who calms our doubts and our fears the same way He calmed the sea. This is the One who was led from judgment hall to judgment hall, crowned with thorns, pierced in the side, who hung from the sixth hour to the ninth and never said a mumbling word — and who, hanging between two thieves, still had room at the cross for the one who simply said, “Lord, remember me.” When He cried “It is finished,” it was not the end but a commission: go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost — and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. We have work to do. So brag on Him — the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star, the Lion of Judah. If you are caught in a storm this morning, He is all of that and more.
Key Takeaways
• A storm is God rearranging things. Ask what in your life needs to be moved, and let the storm bring buried things to the surface where they can be dealt with.
• Storms clean us up and draw us close. They humble our pride and unforgiveness and teach us to lean on God instead of settling into flower beds of ease.
• Prayer is our greatest power. Even Jesus withdrew to pray — if we pray we will stay, so do not let prayer slip once the crisis has passed.
• Do not make your problem bigger than your God. The disciples forgot Jesus was Master of the sea; bring the storm to the One who can speak peace to it.
• Faith rises like an eagle. Jesus is greater than any storm — a shelter, a rock, a present help — and the storm lasts only as long as God’s purpose requires.