“Jesus, calm the storm in me.”

         That was the prayer I found my lips uttering as I read Matthew 8:23-28. Matthew’s record of Jesus calming the storm.

         Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a raging storm, threatening to turn your boat upside down and plunging it into the depth of the unknown?

         Have you ever prayed that prayer?

         What is surprising is Jesus’ response – well, first the “sleeping in the midst of the storm” part, but more surprising is Jesus’s rebuke – first towards the disciples, then to the wind and waves! What a strange person!

        “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” He said to the disciples. Well,shouldn’t they be afraid? It’s a natural reaction after all! And who goes around “rebuking” the wind and waves, isn’t it “natural” that this happens?

         Without going into details: what the disciples see is a storm, but I think Jesus sees the “spiritual reality” behind the storm. The truth is, when you are on a mission, Satan will oppose you. The same Peter who was on that boat warns us later, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8)

          So what storm are you weathering at the moment? Is it a consequence of a  poor choice or action? Did it just come upon you without warning? What is the “spiritual reality” behind it?

          Lord Jesus, help me to focus on you, help me to see the spiritual reality behind the storm, and show me you are the one who is greater than the storm. Do not let fear stop me from going on mission with you. Amen. 

           「主耶穌，平靜我裡面的風暴」

         當我讀馬太福音8:23-28 時，口中不自覺地 微聲禱告「主耶穌，平靜我裡面的風暴」，這段 經文是記載主耶穌基督平靜風暴的故事。    

         你曾否遇上同樣的經歷？發現自己正身處於 狂風暴雨之中，好像在暴風裡的一條船；在大海中 翻騰，被巨浪沖到東歪西倒，甚至彷彿整條船快要 被拋進不可預知的未來深淵之中？  

         你有否曾作出過以上的禱告嗎？    

         但奇怪的卻是主耶穌的回應–首先祂竟然能夠在風暴裡「睡着了」；但令人更感驚訝的是主耶穌的斥責–首先對門徒的責備，之後對風和海的斥責！祂是那麼奇怪的人啊！ 

         耶穌對門徒說：「你們這小信的人哪！為什麼膽怯呢？」但是面對着狂風暴雨，門徒的驚慌、害怕豈不是自然的反應嗎？又有誰會反過來斥責「自然景象」風和海？面對危急的情況，門徒的反應豈不是「自然」嗎？

        也許我們忽略了一些細節：門徒所看見的是風暴，但我相信主耶穌所看見的卻是在風暴背後的「屬靈實況」。事實上，當你實踐神的使命時，撒但就會與你作對。就如當日在船上的彼得，他在日後向我們發出同樣的警告，8「務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。」(彼得前書 5:8)   

        你這一刻正處於怎樣的風暴？這可能是因你曾經做了一個不好的抉擇或行動而引致的後果，又或是在你毫無防備下而突然而來的風暴。我們要問，背後真正的「屬靈實況」究竟是甚麼？  

        主耶穌，求祢幫助我定睛在祢身上，幫助我們看得見在風暴之後的屬靈實況，並顯明給我們知道祢就是比一切風暴更大的那一位。幫助我們決不容讓懼怕，阻礙我們與祢一起實踐使命。阿們。