Praise in the Midst of the Storm Sample

### Jesus is in the Boat Imagine with me for just a moment and head back to ancient Israel… It was a beautiful day as the blistering sun beamed down upon the Sea of Galilee causing it to glisten like a starry midnight sky. The waters of the sea were calm as the sun began to set and darkness fell. Jesus and his disciples climbed into their boat to cross to the other side of the sea. There was a buzz on the boat as they chatted about all the marvelous miracles that had just taken place right before their eyes that day. One of the disciples' shares, “ Did you see that guy with leprosy? All Jesus had to say is 'Be clean' and the boils were gone." As the disciples continue to cheerfully chat about all the amazing signs and wonders they just witnessed, Jesus finds the coziest corner of the boat he can find and lies down for a short nap. Just as Peter begins whistling a happy tune, a gust of wind blows over his face and SUDDENLY, and seemingly out of nowhere, a strong squall is stirred on the once tranquil waters. The whistling and the cheerful chatter quickly cease as the tone turns to terror they are now in the middle of a raging storm at sea. The once faith-filled disciples begin tightening down the sails as one of them screams out, “we’re all gonna die.” This statement heightens everyone's fear in the boat...all but One. As the waters of the sea violently slam into the boat, some of the disciples go over to Jesus and jostle him awake, crying out, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown.” Jesus wakes up, slowly stretches, and yawns. He shakes his head at his disciples' lack of faith muttering out, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” In essence, he’s saying, “Don’t you know who’s in the boat with you?” Jesus then speaks to the storm and it obeys its Creator’s command to quiet itself. The disciples sit there, soaked and shocked, jaws dropped, saying, “Who is this man that even the wind and the waves obey him?” Our lives are very similar to the disciples' experience on the boat that day. Everything in our life can be going just fine and then all of a sudden a great storm can sneak up, catching us off guard, and knocking us for a loop. It could be as simple as driving down the road and hearing a loud 'POP’ as your car tire blows out, or as intense as getting a diagnosis from a doctor that you now have a major disease. It has been said you are either going into a storm, are right in the middle of a storm, or just coming out the other side of a storm. The reality of life is that you will, at some point or another, face trials and tribulations. This Bible plan will empower you with strategies to get you through any storm that may come your way. The days are laid out in the form of the acronym P.R.A.I.S.E., so whenever a storm of life blows into your boat, you can quickly recall them. If you must remember just one thing, remember this...Jesus is in the boat with you! Take a moment and watch the dramatized video clip provided by LUMO