Please God More

1. Knowing What Pleases the Lord

The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:8–10 (ESV):

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Paul is saying that a true believer doesn’t just claim to walk in the light — he proves it by continually testing and discerning what pleases God. This means our walk with God is not passive; it is intentional. Every decision, attitude, and action should be weighed in the light of “Does this please the Lord?”

The word “discern” (Greek: dokimazō) literally means “to test, examine, or prove.” So the believer must live in a constant posture of spiritual sensitivity — testing everything, keeping what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and discarding what displeases God.

Today, we will learn one of the things that greatly pleases the Lord — faith that remains steadfast in the storm.

2. Jesus in the Boat: The Storm and the Lesson

Luke 8:22–25 (NKJV)

“Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.’ And they launched out.
But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.
And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.
But He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!’”

This account is rich with divine revelation. Jesus and His disciples were crossing to the other side of the Sea of Galilee — not for leisure, but for ministry. On the other side was a man possessed by a legion of demons (Luke 8:26–39), who would later become a powerful witness to his community after being set free.

The storm, therefore, was not random. It was a direct satanic assault intended to hinder the work of God. The Bible calls Satan “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), meaning he sometimes operates through natural elements — winds, storms, and circumstances — to bring fear and doubt into the hearts of believers.

But even when Satan attacks, God allows it for a higher purpose: to test and strengthen our faith.

3. When Christ Seems Asleep

The text says, “As they sailed, He fell asleep.”

That’s not a sign of indifference — it’s a test of faith. Psalm 121:4 reminds us:

“Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

So, even when it seems like Jesus is “asleep” in our lives, He is fully aware. He may be silent, but He is not absent. His silence is meant to reveal whether we trust His word more than our circumstances.

Jesus had already said, “Let us go over to the other side.” His word was a divine guarantee of arrival. The storm could not cancel His promise. Likewise, in our own lives, if Christ has spoken a word over us — whether through Scripture or the inner witness of the Spirit — we must hold onto it even when the waves rise.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) says:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
The disciples heard the word, but they failed to believe it when tested.

4. Faith that Pleases God

When the disciples cried out, “Master, we are perishing!”, Jesus responded by calming the storm — but then He rebuked their unbelief: “Where is your faith?”

Faith is one of the most powerful expressions of what pleases God. The writer of Hebrews declares:

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

God is pleased when we trust Him — not only when the sea is calm, but when the storm is raging. Faith says, “Even if I don’t see Him moving, He’s still in control.”

Faith is not proven in peace; it is proven in pressure.
Anyone can believe when the sun is shining, but mature faith continues to rest when thunder rolls.

5. The Symbolism of the Boat

The boat represents your life — your journey of faith, your ministry, your family, your calling.
The storm represents trials, spiritual warfare, uncertainty, and fear.

And Jesus in the boat represents the abiding presence of God through the Holy Spirit (John 14:17).

As long as Christ is “in your boat,” it cannot sink. You may take on water, but you will not drown. Isaiah 43:2 (ESV) assures us:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.”

You might feel shaken, but you are never abandoned.

6. The Danger of Panic and Complaining

When trials come, our natural response is to fear or complain. The disciples panicked and said, “We are perishing!” The Israelites did the same in the wilderness.

Exodus 16:2–3 (NIV):

“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’”

Their fear made them forget God’s faithfulness. Yet God still provided manna and quail — not because they pleased Him, but because He is merciful. However, their unbelief delayed their destiny.

Likewise, many Christians today cry out in despair the moment hardship comes. God may still answer, but He is not always pleased. Mature believers trust even when they can’t trace God’s hand.

7. When Faith Rests, Storms Cease

There was never any real danger of the boat sinking. Jesus’ presence was the guarantee of safety.
When you walk with Christ, no storm has the authority to destroy what God has ordained.

Psalm 46:1–3 (ESV) reminds us:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

Faith that rests in God’s sovereignty pleases Him deeply.
When we trust that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28), we honor Him as Lord even over the storm.

8. How to Keep Jesus “in the Boat”

Having Jesus in your boat means keeping Him in your heart — through obedience, holiness, and communion with His Word.
John 14:23 (NKJV):

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

When the storm comes, obedience anchors you. Holiness guards you. And faith sustains you.

You don’t have to “wake” Jesus through panic prayers; faith-filled trust will calm the storm before fear takes root.

9. Conclusion: The Faith That Pleases God

Faith that pleases God does not deny the storm — it simply refuses to be moved by it.

Even if Jesus seems silent, your confidence must remain firm:
He is in control.
He is faithful.
He cannot fail.

Let us, therefore, grow from faith that panics to faith that rests — from faith that cries “we’re perishing!” to faith that says “we’re crossing over!”

May we be among those who please the Lord by believing Him through the storm, not only after it.

Romans 15:13 (NIV):

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy 

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