Even though we follow Christ’s command, we should not expect to escape the storm. In this passage of Scripture, the disciples were obeying His command, yet they encountered the fiercest of storms and were in great danger of being drowned. In their distress, they cried out for Christ’s assistance.

Christ may delay coming to us during our times of distress, but it is simply so our faith may be tested and strengthened. His purpose is also that our prayers will be more powerful, our desire for deliverance will be greater, and when deliverance finally comes we will appreciate it more fully.

Gently rebuking His disciples, Christ asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). In effect, He was saying, “Why didn’t you face the storm victoriously and shout to the raging winds and rolling waves, ‘You cannot harm us, for Christ, the mighty Savior, is on board’?”

Of course, it is much easier to trust God when the sun is shining than to trust Him when the storm is raging around us.

Yet we will never know our level of genuine faith until it is tested in a fierce storm, and that is why our Savior is on board.

If you are ever to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10), your strength will be born during a storm.

With Christ in my vessel, I smile at the storm.

Christ said, “Let us go over to the other side”—not “to the middle of the lake to be drowned.” DANIEL CRAWFORD

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord my banner).—When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners.—The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.—We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.—Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.—The captain of our salvation.

My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.—Valiant for the truth.—Fight the Lord 's battles.—Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord , and work: fear ye not.—Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.—Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.—I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.—Strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.—The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Thus said the Lord of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets.—Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not.—The Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might.

If God be for us, who can be against us?—Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.

Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.—Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.—Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.—Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.—And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.—Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.—Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.—This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

We were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.—Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.—Strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.—God is my strength and power: . . . he teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.—Our sufficiency is of God.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.—Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

The time would fail me to tell of [those] who through faith subdued kingdoms, . . . out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou has caused me to hope.—O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.—Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

Fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.—Be strong, . . . and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.—Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

The gospel of Christ . . . is the power of God unto salvation.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

When the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud, ... a man lefthanded.

After him was Shamgar, ... which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

The Lord looked upon [Gideon], and said, Go in this thy might: ... have not I sent thee?

And he said unto him, O my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

The Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me, ... lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.—My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.