Walking Through the Impossible: Finding Strength in the Storm

I have a heart that feels deeply. Sometimes, it feels like too much. I remember being a little girl, watching people sit at our table, sharing their struggles with my parents—who were missionaries in Spain—and my heart would ache for them. It was as though I could feel their pain. While I’m thankful for a heart sensitive to others, it can be difficult to balance the weight of those feelings. Sometimes, it feels like I'm carrying burdens that aren’t mine to carry, when really, I need to hand them over to Jesus.

As someone who feels deeply, I’ve often struggled to find peace when I see pain all around me. Recent events like Hurricane Helene, which has devastated parts of North Carolina and East Tennessee—where I’ve called home—have stirred that same deep ache in my heart. The loss and grief so many are facing, coupled with the unrest in Israel, make me ask: How do we keep moving forward? Where do we find peace and hope in the midst of so much chaos?

I’m no theologian, but I know one thing: Everything we need is found in Jesus. No one else can calm the storm and speak peace into our lives the way He can.

This brings me to a story in the Bible that has always resonated deeply with me. It’s the story of Jesus and His disciples in the storm (Matthew 14:22-33, NLT). Jesus had sent His disciples ahead in a boat while He stayed behind to pray. As they were crossing the sea, a violent storm arose, and the disciples were terrified. In the middle of their panic, Jesus came to them—but here’s the crazy amazing thing: He came walking on the water.

I mean, can you imagine? Just sit with that for a second. Jesus, calmly walking on the troubled sea, completely unfazed by the chaos around Him. Now, why do you think He chose to make His appearance that way? I hadn’t thought much about it until recently, but I believe it was to show us something profound: Jesus is in control even when the storm is raging. He wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t unsettled. He walked over the very thing that had the disciples so terrified.

Can you even grasp what it would be like to walk on water? Try to imagine it for a moment. You and I know it’s literally not possible—water can’t support us. But Jesus not only walked on it; He did so during a storm. The chaos didn’t phase Him, and it didn’t stop Him from demonstrating His power. And this is where the aha! moment comes in—Jesus was showing us that what seems impossible for us in the natural is possible with Him. This wasn’t just a miracle to wow the disciples; it was an invitation for them (and us!) to step into the impossible with Him.

Peter, in a moment of boldness, asked Jesus, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28, NLT). And Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter, in the middle of the storm, stepped out of the boat and began walking on water. But as soon as Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind and waves, he began to sink. Jesus reached out, caught him, and said, “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?” (Matthew 14:31, NLT).

The lesson here is powerful: When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can walk through the storms of life without sinking. But even deeper than that, the impossible situations we face—the ones that feel like they’ll drown us—become places where Jesus works His greatest miracles. When Peter focused on Jesus, he did the impossible. He walked on water. The moment Peter looked at the storm, he started to sink. Isn’t that so true for us?

Jesus wasn’t just calming storms or trying to impress. He was showing us how to defy the impossible in our lives through faith. When we fix our gaze on Him, the struggles that seem too big, the grief that seems too heavy, the battles that seem unwinnable—these are all areas where His power is made real. Our faith enables us to do what we never thought possible, but only when our focus is on Christ, not the chaos around us.

That’s exactly why I created the Deeply Rooted mini-study, which you can find in the Bible Study section of this website. The more deeply we are rooted in Christ, the more focused we are on Him, and the less the storm can shake us. It’s the only way, in my opinion, to not be overwhelmed or worried in the world we’re living in. The reality is, it’s not getting any better, but that’s all the more reason to fix our gaze on Jesus.

And here’s a beautiful promise to hold onto: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT).

He is the hope for all of us, no matter what storm we’re facing. He is the truth, the way, and the life (John 14:6, NLT). And as we navigate the troubled waters of life, we can be confident that He is walking with us, steadying us, and calling us to keep our eyes on Him.

So as we move forward through the grief, the tragedy, and the fear, let's remind ourselves daily: He is bigger than the storm. Our strength, hope, and peace are found in Him alone. If you’re ready to go deeper, I encourage you to check out our Deeply Rooted 5-day study, designed to help you stay grounded in Christ no matter what storms come your way.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, in the middle of life’s storms, help me keep my eyes on You. When fear and doubt start to creep in, remind me that You are greater than the storm. Strengthen my faith, and teach me to trust You fully, knowing that You are always in control. Help me to release the burdens I carry, to lay them at Your feet, and to rest in the peace that only You can provide. Thank You for being my hope, my anchor, and my guide through every season. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Walking through the impossible (or continually learning too),

Tracee Padilla