Faith in the Storm: Crying Out to Jesus
Summary
### Summary
Today, we continued our series "Surviving the Storm with Jesus" by delving into Matthew 14:22-33. This passage recounts the story of Jesus walking on water towards His disciples, who were caught in a violent storm. Peter, filled with faith, asked Jesus to command him to walk on the water. For a moment, Peter defied the laws of nature, but when he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. In his moment of crisis, Peter cried out to Jesus, who immediately reached out and saved him. This story illustrates the importance of keeping our focus on Jesus, especially during life's storms.
We also explored the emotional and spiritual significance of crying out to God. Jesus, fully human, experienced grief and needed time alone to pray after hearing about the death of John the Baptist. This shows that even Jesus needed to cry out to His Father for strength. Similarly, we are encouraged to cry out to Jesus in our moments of desperation. Crying out is more than just praying; it is an instinctive, urgent plea for help that comes from the depths of our soul. It places a demand on Jesus, provoking Him to respond to our needs.
In our darkest hours, much like the disciples faced the storm in the black of night, we must remember that Jesus is always near, ready to respond when we cry out to Him. Whether we are dealing with grief, fear, or any other storm, crying out to Jesus is a powerful act of faith that invites His immediate intervention.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith and Focus: Peter's ability to walk on water was directly tied to his focus on Jesus. The moment he diverted his attention to the storm, he began to sink. This teaches us that our faith must remain steadfastly focused on Jesus, especially during turbulent times. When we fix our eyes on Him, we can overcome the impossible. [02:29]
2. The Humanity of Jesus: Jesus, though divine, experienced human emotions and needed time alone to grieve and pray after the death of John the Baptist. This reminds us that it is okay to feel overwhelmed and seek solitude for prayer and reflection. Jesus understands our pain and is our perfect example of turning to God in times of sorrow. [07:35]
3. The Power of Crying Out: Crying out to Jesus is more than just a prayer; it is an urgent, emotional plea that comes from the depths of our soul. This act of desperation places a demand on Jesus, compelling Him to respond. It is a powerful way to connect with God in our most vulnerable moments. [15:07]
4. Jesus Responds to Desperation: When Peter cried out for help, Jesus immediately reached out and saved him. This shows that Jesus is always ready to respond to our cries for help. In our moments of crisis, we must not hesitate to cry out to Him, trusting that He will come to our aid. [03:34]
5. Crying Out vs. Bottling Up: Many of us tend to bottle up our emotions and deal with our troubles in silence. However, the act of crying out to Jesus is a powerful expression of our need for His intervention. It is an act of faith that acknowledges our dependence on Him and invites His immediate help. [16:40]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:25] - Jesus Walks on Water
[02:29] - Peter's Faith and Doubt
[03:34] - Jesus Saves Peter
[04:24] - Prayer for Guidance
[05:49] - Feeding the 5,000
[07:35] - Jesus' Grief and Solitude
[09:40] - The Pain of Loss
[11:22] - The Darkest Hour
[13:16] - The Difference Between Praying and Crying Out
[15:07] - The Power of Crying Out
[16:40] - Challenge to Cry Out to Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 14:22-33
- Psalm 18:6
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Peter's initial reaction when he saw Jesus walking on water, and what did he ask Jesus to do? ([01:25])
2. How did Jesus respond to Peter's cry for help when he began to sink? ([03:34])
3. What did Jesus do immediately after dismissing the crowd and before walking on water? ([01:25])
4. How did the disciples react when they first saw Jesus walking on the water? ([01:25])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Peter's ability to walk on water teach us about the relationship between faith and focus on Jesus? ([02:29])
2. How does Jesus' need for solitude and prayer after hearing about John the Baptist's death reflect His humanity? ([07:35])
3. What is the significance of crying out to Jesus in moments of desperation, as opposed to just praying? ([15:07])
4. How does Jesus' immediate response to Peter's cry for help illustrate His readiness to assist us in our crises? ([03:34])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's storms. Did you cry out to Jesus, or did you try to handle it on your own? How did that experience shape your faith? ([16:40])
2. Jesus took time to grieve and pray alone after hearing about John the Baptist's death. How do you handle grief and sorrow in your life? Do you take time to seek solitude and pray? ([07:35])
3. Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. Are there specific distractions in your life that divert your focus from Jesus? How can you minimize these distractions this week? ([02:29])
4. The act of crying out to Jesus is described as an urgent, emotional plea. When was the last time you cried out to Jesus in desperation? How did He respond to your need? ([15:07])
5. Many of us tend to bottle up our emotions and deal with our troubles in silence. What steps can you take to be more open and vulnerable in your relationship with Jesus, especially during difficult times? ([16:40])
6. Jesus responded immediately to Peter's cry for help. How can you cultivate a habit of turning to Jesus first in moments of crisis, rather than relying on your own strength? ([03:34])
7. Reflect on the difference between praying and crying out to God. How can you incorporate more heartfelt, urgent pleas into your prayer life? ([15:07])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith and Focus
Peter's ability to walk on water was directly tied to his focus on Jesus. The moment he diverted his attention to the storm, he began to sink. This teaches us that our faith must remain steadfastly focused on Jesus, especially during turbulent times. When we fix our eyes on Him, we can overcome the impossible. [02:29]
Matthew 14:30-31 (ESV): "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'"
Reflection: What are the "storms" in your life that are causing you to lose focus on Jesus? How can you intentionally fix your eyes on Him today?
Day 2: The Humanity of Jesus
Jesus, though divine, experienced human emotions and needed time alone to grieve and pray after the death of John the Baptist. This reminds us that it is okay to feel overwhelmed and seek solitude for prayer and reflection. Jesus understands our pain and is our perfect example of turning to God in times of sorrow. [07:35]
Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: When was the last time you allowed yourself to grieve and seek solitude in prayer? How can you follow Jesus' example in dealing with your own emotions?
Day 3: The Power of Crying Out
Crying out to Jesus is more than just a prayer; it is an urgent, emotional plea that comes from the depths of our soul. This act of desperation places a demand on Jesus, compelling Him to respond. It is a powerful way to connect with God in our most vulnerable moments. [15:07]
Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Think of a moment when you felt desperate and cried out to God. How did He respond? How can you make crying out to Jesus a regular part of your spiritual practice?
Day 4: Jesus Responds to Desperation
When Peter cried out for help, Jesus immediately reached out and saved him. This shows that Jesus is always ready to respond to our cries for help. In our moments of crisis, we must not hesitate to cry out to Him, trusting that He will come to our aid. [03:34]
Isaiah 65:24 (ESV): "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need Jesus' immediate intervention? Take a moment to cry out to Him and trust that He will respond.
Day 5: Crying Out vs. Bottling Up
Many of us tend to bottle up our emotions and deal with our troubles in silence. However, the act of crying out to Jesus is a powerful expression of our need for His intervention. It is an act of faith that acknowledges our dependence on Him and invites His immediate help. [16:40]
Psalm 142:1-2 (ESV): "With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him."
Reflection: Are there emotions or struggles you have been bottling up? How can you begin to express these to Jesus today, trusting in His willingness to help?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "When we cry out, it places a demand on him. It provokes him to respond, causing him to jump up and respond to our need. When we cry out to God, it is often in a moment of deep need or desperation. There is a sense of urgency and desperation that comes with it." [15:07] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Crying out is a spontaneous reaction to a pressing need. It is an instinctive reaction to immediate trouble. Just think about it. When your babies cried, you didn't just sit there. You jumped up and you ran to that child because that cry placed a demand on you. It moved you. It made your heart beat faster. It provoked a response out of you." [15:07] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Peter, filled with faith, had the audacity. And I'm going to say that again. He had the audacity to ask Jesus to command him to come out on the water and walk towards him. For a moment, Peter was able to defy the laws of gravity and the laws of nature. And a. Accomplished something incredible." [02:29] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink into the sea. In that moment of crisis, Peter did the one thing that he knew would save him. He cried out to Jesus for help. And without hesitation, Jesus responded. Jesus reached out his hand. And pulled him out of the depths of the sea." [02:29] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "How do we get Jesus to respond? To our storm by crying out to him for help. There is a powerful difference between praying and crying out to God. We know that both are very important ways to communicate to our heavenly father, but I want to define to you today what crying out is." [14:20] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus had just lost his advocate, his forerunner, his cousin, his friend, and he himself was dealing with grief. At the beginning of chapter 14, verses 12 to 13, we see that John the Baptist followers just delivered the news to Jesus that John, had been beheaded and he was dead. His first cousin was dead." [07:35] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, not including women and children, because you know, the Bible didn't count women and children with just five loaves and two fish. So maybe possibly 15,000 people. Jesus was speaking to. And Jesus fed them with five loaves and two fish. Can you imagine? What a wonder, what a miraculous event that must have been some kind of event for those disciples to take part of to witness." [05:49] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus walks on the water. Jesus walked, not just on still water, but fulent raging water. That in itself is a miracle. That in itself. is a wonder. But again, like what we read in Mark chapter four, the disciples failed to recognize him. They failed to recognize Jesus." [11:22] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The question that we're going to answer today. Is how do we get Jesus to respond to us during our moment of crisis? How do we get Jesus to respond to us during our moment of crisis? How do I get Jesus to respond to me during the storms of life? So the title of today's message is surviving the storm with Jesus part to cry out and without hesitation. Jesus. Jesus will respond." [04:24] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some of you in this room, when the storms of life hit, you cry out, but not to God. You cry out, but not to Jesus. Others of us in this room, we bottled it up inside and deal with our troubles in silence. But I'm challenging us this morning to cry out to Jesus in the middle of a storm. Cry out to Jesus for help." [16:40] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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