You did everything right — and the storm still came. Right after the miracle of the five loaves, Jesus constrained His disciples into the boat — and obedience sailed them straight into a tempest. From Matthew 14, Pastor Nana Boadum answers the question so many carry: if I'm following God, why is the wind against me?
The seven movements
- The setting: miracle, then mountain. The five thousand had just been fed — bread multiplying in the disciples' obeying hands — and Jesus went up alone to pray. He was a man of the mountain, of the secret place; power flows from prayer (Matthew 14:13-23).
- Obedience was the route into the storm. Jesus constrained them to cross over — they didn't drift into the tempest; they were sent (Matthew 14:22-24).
- Faith gives you victory over your past. The past argues with the future, but walking in faith means refusing to be its prisoner. Your past is past; you don't have to fear the old failure repeating itself.
- God is awake. They were mid-sea; He was on the mountain — and He saw them straining at the oars. "He ever lives to make intercession" (Hebrews 7:25): Jesus is praying for you, the Spirit is praying in you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
- Storms are not proof you missed God. You can be in a storm while doing exactly what God told you to do. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
- Hold on to what God has said. When the wind argues with the word, the word wins. Remember what He said — a year ago, a decade ago — and wage war with it (1 Timothy 1:18).
- Praise party, not pity party. Do what the enemy least expects: praise Him through it. Not denial — allegiance to a higher truth. Praise Him with no answers, walking in the dark, still moving — and let the devil be confused.
Walk away with this
Affliction may try to rise a second time (Nahum 1:9) — but you will respond better this time: in faith, not fear. Be of good cheer. This season will end. You will not.