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Life After the Storm

Stephan Kirby - Ekklesia
Mar 31
2 min read

Life After the Storm

Text: Matthew 8:23–27, Matthew 14:22–33 (NLT)

Good morning Ekklesia Family

Last night, here in the Louisville, KY area, around 10 p.m., my wife and I sat in the safest place in our home. Tornado sirens screamed outside. Alerts lit up our phones. Winds roared like a freight train through our neighborhood. My wife said, "Stephän, will you pray?" And I paused—not out of fear, but from faith. I didn’t feel the need to beg God to stop the storm. Why? Because I’ve seen storms before. I trusted—He was already in control.

Matthew records two different storms—two different moments of chaos—but the same unchanging Jesus. In Matthew 8, Jesus is asleep in the storm. In Matthew 14, He’s walking on it. One storm, He rides through with you; another, He meets you in the middle of it. But both storms prove this one truth: Jesus is always in control.

In Matthew 8, the disciples cry out in panic—“Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” But Jesus calms the wind and waves with one rebuke and asks, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith.”In Matthew 14, Peter steps out on water—but when he looks at the storm, he sinks. And still, Jesus immediately catches him, proving that even your faltering faith is still held by a faithful Savior.

Here’s the truth: Faith isn’t proven by the absence of fear—it’s proven by trust in the presence of Jesus.Last night’s storm reminded me: I didn’t need to pray out of panic—I stood in peace because my God has a proven track record.

Matthew 8: Jesus is in the boat, asleep. His presence is peace. Even when He’s silent, He’s sovereign.
Matthew 14: Jesus commands His disciples into the storm. His delay was divine. He shows up walking on what threatened them.

Both storms teach us: Jesus may not stop every storm before it starts—but He will always show up in it, calm it, or carry you through it.

You may be in a storm right now—financial, emotional, spiritual. But don’t mistake the presence of the storm for the absence of the Savior. He sees. He knows. And He’s either resting in the boat with you or walking on the waves to reach you.

Father, I surrender my fears to You. Whether You speak peace to the storm or peace to my soul, I trust You. Thank You for being my shelter, my calm, and my rescue. I will not be afraid. You are my God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you’re ready to stop running from the storm and start walking with the Savior, we invite you to know Jesus Christ personally. Let Him speak peace into your life. Join us at Ekklesia Christian Life Ministries, where storms don’t stop our faith—they strengthen it.Visit: ekklesiachristianlife.org/family. Because after every storm, there's a testimony. And Jesus is in control the whole time.