Some things you just cannot predict in life.  You can make your plans and set your agenda, filling your calendar by the hour of things you want to accomplish by days end.  You are the master of your time.  You are the master of many things, except the unexpected storms of life.

Your morning starts like the hundreds of others.  You grab a cup of coffee to drink on your way to work.  You wipe the sleep from your eyes and set your cruise.  You will be there soon.  Nothing can stop you now.  Except a storm that is just over the horizon.  You cannot see it coming.  You don't even feel anything different.  It takes you completely by surprise.

It happened one evening with the disciples of Jesus.  In a boat loaded with many men and one Son of God, they set off into the Sea of Galilee.  Other little boats followed.  A great storm hit them hard and their boat was tossed in this rough sea.   They were in an area where cliffs lined the shores and this caused a great funnel for the wind to whip up storms quickly.

Jesus had been teaching all day and was tired.  So, He slept.  Right in the middle of a great storm, Jesus slept.  Some of these men were seasoned fishermen and they knew they were in peril.  But, Jesus slept.  The disciples cried out and fought the winds with the boat.  But, Jesus slept.  He slept and His disciples questioned out of their fear of the waves.

On another occasion. Jesus went to a mountain to pray by Himself.  His disciples had loaded into another boat and were in the middle of the sea again when a storm hit.  This time, because Jesus had been left behind to pray, He walked across the water to the boat.  In the middle of the great waves of their storm, Jesus walked towards them.

In the first occasion Jesus commanded the waves to cease and the storm calmed.  They were all amazed and more frightened of Jesus than the storm because even His words spoken calmed their storm.  In the second occasion, the waves continued, but Peter, one of the Lord's disciples wanted to go out to meet Jesus.  On the water.  Walking on the surface.

Jumping from the boat at the invitation of Jesus, Peter walked on the surface of the sea.  But then, Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and immediately fear set in.  He started to sink.  Jesus extended His hand and helped Peter back up again.  They walked through the storm and waves.

Here's the rub.  You and I are going to face the storms of life at one time or another.  It is inevidable.  It can happen today, with your next breath.  A phone call will bring it on.  A loved one is gone.  A spouse is missing.  Kids are in jail.  Drugs, divorce, separation, alcohol, abuse, anger, financial stress and disaster, any number of things can happen.

Jesus will either be in the boat with you or He will be walking with you through the waves.  Either way, it is only Jesus who can bring you peace.  His peace will calm your storms of life and He will take you by the hand every time.