DR. LANDON GALLOWAY

In the biblical imagination, the sea was not just a body of water—it was a symbol of chaos. It represented everything unruly, dangerous, and resistant to the order God intended. That’s why in Revelation 21:1, John tells us that in the new heaven and new earth, “there was no more sea.” He’s not saying there won’t be oceans or coastlines. He’s saying that chaos will no longer exist. Shalom will reign.

Throughout Scripture, storm stories show us how chaos intrudes into human life and divine mission. But they also show us how peace—real, unshakable peace—can be cultivated even in the midst of violent, destabilizing storms. As church leaders, we encounter storms of all kinds. And understanding their origins helps us navigate them with wisdom, discernment, and faith.

1. Storms That I Cause (Jonah 1:1–4)

Jonah was a prophet with a divine assignment: Go to Nineveh and call the people to repentance. But instead of moving toward his purpose, he ran in the opposite direction. His disobedience led him to Joppa, then to a boat bound for Tarshish—and, ultimately, into a violent storm hurled by God, Himself.

This kind of storm arises when we, as leaders, get out of alignment with God’s voice. It could be a refusal to address a hard truth, a decision made from fear or ego, or a season where we’ve drifted from intimacy with God. And when that happens, chaos doesn’t stay contained. Jonah’s rebellion disrupted not only his peace, but also the peace of everyone on board.

The beauty of Jonah’s story is that the storm wasn’t punishment—it was an invitation to return. God uses storms to realign what has gotten off track. As leaders, we must cultivate peace not by pretending the storm isn’t our fault, but by being honest enough to repent and course-correct. Shalom begins where obedience is restored.

2. Storms That Others Cause (Jonah 1:5–16)

While Jonah slept below deck, the sailors were panicking. They hadn’t done anything wrong; they were simply caught in someone else’s storm. In their desperation, they threw cargo overboard, prayed to gods that couldn’t save, and tried to row their way out. But nothing worked until they released Jonah over the side.

There’s a painful truth here for leaders: Sometimes, the chaos in our ministries isn’t from our own decisions, but from the people we’ve allowed too close. Toxic team members, manipulative voices, or partnerships outside of God’s timing can create constant storms. And when peace feels impossible, it may be because we’ve got someone on board who was never meant to sail with us.

Letting go can feel unkind, even unspiritual. But discernment is not cruelty—it’s stewardship. The moment Jonah was thrown overboard, the sea grew calm. If you’re fighting chaos that won’t break, it might be time to evaluate who’s influencing your direction. Sometimes cultivating peace means making hard, Spirit-led decisions about your team and your relational boundaries.

3. Storms That My Purpose Causes

(Mark 4:35–41)

When Jesus told His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side,” they obeyed without hesitation. But obedience didn’t keep the storm away. In fact, the storm came because they were heading into divine assignment, into enemy territory to deliver a man tormented by a legion of demons.

This is a storm that comes right before breakthrough. Right before impact. Right before purpose is fulfilled. And often, that’s when fear strikes hardest. The wind rises, the waves break over the boat, and even seasoned fishermen feel like they’re going under.

In the middle of that chaos, Jesus is sleeping, not out of apathy, but because His peace is not threatened by the storm. When the disciples wake Him, He doesn’t just calm the sea—He challenges their perspective. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

That question isn’t about the existence of faith—it’s about the placement of it. They had faith… in the storm. They believed more in the chaos than in the one who calms it. And that’s the challenge for us as leaders: When the storm is a direct result of our obedience and assignment, will we see it through the lens of fear or faith?

We cultivate peace by recognizing that storms aren’t always signs we’ve missed God—they may be signs we’re right on track. Keep rowing. Deliverance is on the other side.

4. Storms That Just Happen

(Matthew 14:22–33)

Sometimes storms aren’t caused by rebellion, toxic relationships, or spiritual warfare. Sometimes they just happen. Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and cross the lake. They obeyed. But even in obedience, they found themselves “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against them.”

This is the chaos of a broken world – disease, disappointment, financial strain, loss, fatigue. No one caused it. There’s no deeper meaning. It’s just life in a fallen creation groaning for redemption.

But even in those storms, Jesus shows up. Not in the way we expect—He doesn’t calm the storm right away. He walks on it. The very thing that threatens the disciples becomes the pathway for His arrival. Chaos becomes His platform. The storm that threatens to take you under is under His feet. He shows dominion over the chaos. He isn’t just the storm-stopper. Sometimes, He is the storm-stomper!

And Peter? He does the unthinkable. He walks on the water, too—until he shifts his focus. When his eyes are on Jesus, he stands above the waves. When his eyes are on the wind, he sinks.

This is the invitation to leaders in unexplainable storms: Don’t fix your eyes on what’s swirling. Fix them on who’s walking toward you. Cultivate Shalom by refusing to be defined by your circumstances. Peace is not the absence of pressure—it’s the presence of Jesus in the middle of it.

Every storm has its origin. Some are ours. Some are theirs. Some are tied to our calling. And some are just part of being human. But no matter the cause, one thing is true in every case: Jesus is not intimidated by chaos. He speaks to it. He walks on it. He is Lord over it.

You may feel like you’re in a season where peace is elusive. But let me remind you: Shalom is not circumstantial—it’s Christological. It is found in the person of Jesus, not the condition of the sea.

You don’t have to sink. You don’t have to throw in the towel. You don’t have to fear the wind.

Because the One who stills storms and walks on waves is with you.