August 2026 Writen by Amy Davies
Seen - In the Eye of the Storm
Welcome to our latest edition of Flourish, focusing on how we are Seen by Jesus. When I think of the word ‘seen’ it is immediately followed by the word ‘noticed’. To be seen is to be noticed by another, and to be noticed is to become aware of. Jesus is aware of you, right here, right now. Wherever you are, Jesus sees you. We don’t have to have it all together for Jesus to notice us. He perceives us in our highs and our lows, and He loves us just the same.
The Storms of Life
I wonder where you are at today. Perhaps you’re high up on the mountain top, a heart full of praise and promise, sat beside still waters in a place of peace, or maybe you’re deep in the depths of despair, tossed about on the waves of life.
If you’re stuck in your boat out on stormy waters today, be assured, you are not alone. Turn back the clock to Matthew 14:22-33 and we find Jesus’ disciples caught in their own storm in the middle of Lake Galilee.
How often do we find ourselves in a situation where we are ‘a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves, wind against us’?
Challenges at work, financial difficulty, health scares, family conflict, the list is endless. There are waves of one kind or another all around and we can feel overwhelmed. Imagine the disciples - they had just come from the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand - their minds must have been frazzled - what had they just witnessed?! Who was this Jesus they were following, multiplying five loaves and two fish into a meal for so many? Not to mention the physical exhaustion - on their feet, serving the people, collecting the left-overs. It had been a busy day. Now they find themselves alone in the storm, John 6:18 describes a strong wind blowing and waters growing rough. No time for rest, they must keep at it, only their own strength to depend on as they rowed through the night
This was no mean feat, according to my Life Application Study Bible, the Sea of Galilee is 650ft below sea level, 150ft deep, surrounded by hills. These physical features make it subject to sudden windstorms that would cause extremely high waves. Whilst such storms were to be expected on the lake, they were nonetheless frightening. Tired, alone, fearful.
Where was Jesus? Jesus was not in the boat, He was up a mountain-side praying. What an image - while the disciples were struggling, Jesus was watching, Jesus was praying. Storms can be lonely places, we can feel lost and isolated. Perhaps others do not understand, maybe we cannot see Jesus in what we are going through. But He is there; He sees, He prays, and then… “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake.” Mark 6:48
He comes! Jesus does not leave us out there in the middle of the white-topped waves. He draws near.
Blinded by Fear
What strikes me most about these verses is how the disciples didn’t recognise Jesus. I wonder if we do the same - us humans have set expectations, often limited by the ordinary - it takes great faith to expect the unexpected. Maybe it was just poor visibility preventing the disciples from recognising their Master, but I wonder if it was their fear and inclination to lean on their own human understanding rather than the divine possibilities presented by this miraculous Messiah. Fear and ignorance were blinding them. Don’t they blind us too? When the waves are tall and the wind is forceful, do we always see Jesus in our stormy circumstances? I know I’ve missed Him more than once.
Yet His response is not one of judgement, but a command to take courage and be without fear. If only it was that easy! If you are someone like me who struggles with fear on a daily basis this might feel a little frustrating - I would if I could, but I can’t! Or can I? Am I allowing the enemy a foothold where Jesus extends a hand of grace? Let’s see how the story pans out…
““Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
An Invitation to Come
In the storms of life, when we face deep resistance, Jesus invites us to come to Him, to draw close. He calls us out upon the waters, turbulent as they may be. Our natural response may be to run in the opposite direction, seeking dry land, but this, my friend, is faith. It takes faith to step foot out of the boat and start walking on water. This may be more metaphorical than literal today, but we all have times when Jesus calls us out of the boat - out of our comfort zones, and into the raging waters of trial and challenge. Our response? That’s up to us. We can remain in the boat, play it safe, or we can choose to be bold like Peter.
Peter took a chance on Jesus. He could have drowned in those waves, yet he trusted his Saviour enough to step down from a place of relative security into the completely unimaginable, unfathomable. Out of the realms of human understanding and into a place of limitless possibilities. Some might knock Peter down for faltering, but I think he was pretty brave. It takes courage to venture into the unknown. It takes great nerve to let go of control and put our lives in the hands of one other than ourselves. It’s human nature to rely on our own strength. But Peter chose the better path, the one of faith and obedience.
We’ve all been there - tried to take a step of faith, eyes fixed on Jesus before shifting our gaze back to the treacherous waters around us - the pit of depression, the untamable rage within, the looming deadline, rising debt, growing problem. Whatever we fix our eyes on becomes big. If we look around at our challenges, they will grow bigger and scarier by the second, they will seem insurmountable, but fix our eyes on the One who sees all, knows all, overcomes all? Our confidence will increase as we magnify our Maker, trusting in His strength not our own. Apart from Him we can do nothing. With Him, the impossible becomes possible.
Whilst Jesus did question Peter’s faith, I see Him deliver the phrase with a voice of kindness and compassion, not harsh judgement. Perhaps even a knowing smile upon His face.
Jesus - One Who See
These verses tell us much about who Jesus is - One who sees and cares. Jesus watches, prays and comes. Jesus listens and responds - immediately, He calls, guides and reaches out to save - immediately. Jesus is our faithful friend, He will never leave us to drown. Even when we can’t see it, He is working.
So how do we respond? Just as the disciples did:
We respond with worship. Glorifying the only one who truly knows our struggle, the only one who can walk on water to reach us. We worship Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the one who holds us in the palm of His hand as He writes our story according to His bigger picture.
It’s interesting you know, right back at the beginning of the story, we see Jesus ‘made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him.’ Sometimes Jesus sends us into the storm. Sometimes Jesus asks us to go ahead. Sometimes, in doing what Jesus asks, we hit resistance, the wind comes against us. It’s in these times we need to hold onto the assurance that we are seen. Jesus sees what we cannot. He has the perfect plan. He knows the final destination. If the disciples had never faced the storm, they would have missed this revelation of Jesus’ power and glory. Peter would not have experienced the miraculous in this special way.
Perhaps we could follow the example of James as he encourages us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
So, what can we do in the midst of our storm today?
Speak to Jesus - “Lord, if it's you, tell me to come.”
Listen for Jesus’ voice above the roaring of the waves.
Respond to Jesus by stepping out of the boat, one foot in front of the other.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Praise Him in the storm!