Beauty of a Storm
- Ross Steele
- Mar 28
- 4 min read
Storms can expose what we’re really chasing—applause, control, or the presence of God. Over these five days, you’ll trace the “beauty of a storm” by watching Jesus withdraw, send His disciples forward, and meet them in the dark. As you reflect, ask God to reshape your expectations and deepen your surrender so you can recognize Him even when the winds rise.
Day 1
John 6:15
The crowd wanted Jesus for what He could do for them, and when He didn’t fit their expectations, they tried to force Him into their preferred role. Jesus refused to be shaped by public pressure, even when it looked like opportunity and influence. Instead of riding the wave of popularity, He withdrew to the mountain alone.
Storms often begin long before the wind hits the water—when our expectations of Jesus quietly replace surrender to Jesus. The beauty here is that Jesus will not be recruited into our agendas; He is King, but not the kind our flesh tries to control. Let this moment search you: are you seeking Christ Himself, or the outcomes you hope He will deliver?
Reflections
Where have I been tempted to “use” Jesus to get a result instead of seeking Jesus for who He is?
What expectation am I placing on God right now that I haven’t surrendered to His wisdom?
Identify one area where public opinion or pressure has been shaping my decisions more than Scripture.
Pray a simple surrender prayer: “Jesus, You are King; I release my agenda to You.”
What would change this week if my primary goal was God’s presence rather than people’s approval?
Day 2
Mark 6:45
Mark says Jesus “made” the disciples get into the boat. That means the coming struggle on the water wasn’t an accident outside of His awareness; their obedience placed them directly in a setting where they could not rely on skill, strength, or certainty. Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee calm seas—it guarantees His purpose, even when the path feels confusing.
There is beauty in realizing that obedience is not measured by ease. If you only interpret God’s will by comfort, you may assume you missed Him when the wind picks up. But sometimes the storm is not a detour; it’s a classroom where Jesus trains your trust and exposes what you lean on when control slips away.
Reflections
Is there a step of obedience I’ve been delaying because I’m afraid it will be costly or uncomfortable?
How do I typically interpret hardship—punishment, randomness, or training? Why?
Name one “boat” I rely on (ability, money, influence, routines) that God may be inviting me to hold loosely.
What does faithful obedience look like for me in the next 24 hours, regardless of the outcome?
Ask God to show me where I equate His guidance with an easy path.
Day 3
John 6:17
John notes that it had become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. Darkness does more than limit visibility; it amplifies fear, distortion, and the feeling of being alone. Many believers know this tension—moving forward in obedience while God feels delayed, silent, or distant.
The beauty of the storm is that it reveals what you believe about God when you can’t see Him. Darkness tempts you to create explanations, to panic-control, or to quit the crossing altogether. Yet Scripture repeatedly shows that God works deeply in hidden seasons, forming endurance and purifying faith when the path is not lit up ahead of you.
Reflections
Where do I feel like I’m in the dark right now—emotionally, spiritually, relationally, or practically?
What lies do I tend to believe when God feels “not yet” (e.g., He forgot me, He’s disappointed, I’m alone)?
What is one way I can practice steady faith today (prayer, Scripture, community, confession)?
Who can I invite into my storm rather than isolating in it?
Write a short statement of trust to repeat this week when anxiety rises.
Day 4
John 6:18
A strong wind stirred the sea, turning a routine crossing into a fight. The setting matters: the Sea of Galilee could churn suddenly as winds funneled down into the valley, and what looked stable could become dangerous fast. Some storms are like that—unexpected, intense, and beyond what planning can prevent.
The beauty is not in the wind itself, but in what the wind clarifies. Storms reveal the limits of human control and the fragility of self-reliance, but they also open space for God’s strength to be known. When you stop pretending you can command the waves, you become ready to see the One who can.
Reflections
What storm feels sudden or overwhelming right now, and what has it exposed in me?
Where am I trying to regain control instead of seeking God’s presence and direction?
What practical responsibility is mine to take—and what burden do I need to release to God?
How can this storm become a place where my faith matures rather than shrinks?
Pray specifically: “Lord, show me Your beauty in this storm—what You’re forming in me and what You’re revealing about You.”
Day 5
John 6:20
In the middle of their fear, Jesus came near and said, “It is I; do not be afraid.” He didn’t begin with a strategy or a lecture; He began with His presence and His identity. The turning point wasn’t that the disciples suddenly became stronger—it was that they recognized who was with them on the water.
The beauty of the storm reaches its peak here: Jesus may not prevent every storm, but He will meet you in them. When your expectations are surrendered, your obedience is steady, and your faith is practiced in the dark, you become able to hear His voice above the wind. Courage grows when you anchor not in outcomes, but in the nearness of Christ.
Reflections
What would it look like for fear to be replaced by awareness of Jesus’ presence today?
When anxiety rises, what is one truth about Jesus’ identity I can cling to (Savior, King, Shepherd, Provider)?
Where do I need to welcome Jesus into the “boat” rather than trying to manage alone?
How has God met me in past storms, and what does that memory call me to trust now?
Choose one daily practice for the next week that keeps you near Jesus (quiet prayer, Scripture reading, worship, or fasting).
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