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Braving the Storm — Ebenezer Quaye (Wednesday Bible Study)

Released: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this Wednesday Bible Study, Ebenezer Quaye explores the topic of “Braving the Storm,” distinguishing between different kinds of storms in our spiritual journeys—those sent by God to redirect us (as with Jonah), and those that arise as opposition when we follow God’s command (as with Jesus and the disciples in Mark 4). The teaching encourages listeners to grow spiritually by not only enduring storms but allowing them to transform us, emphasizing self-examination, discernment, and actionable faith in times of crisis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why We Teach on Storms

• Many sermons focus on victory, breakthrough, or valleys, but rarely do they address the reality that every follower encounters storms.
• Reflection on Jonah’s story, noting that after surviving a God-sent storm, Jonah did not actually change on the inside. Listeners are encouraged to let storms transform them deeply.

Quote [04:46]:

"I don't want the people of God to go through storms, endure storms, and come out at the end...the exact same person. ...People ought to see you and know that you got through a storm because of how different you are." — Ebenezer Quaye

2. Comparing Jonah’s and Jesus’ Storms (Mark 4:35-41)

• Jonah's storm was a redirection due to disobedience; Jesus’ storm was opposition as he fulfilled God’s command.
• Quaye invites listeners to study line by line how Jesus handled the storm, extracting wisdom for our lives.
  • Jonah fled from God; Jesus journeyed with authority, even in chaos.

Quote [13:00]:

"If Jonah is how to do a storm wrong, I want to at least be able to teach how to do a storm right."

3. Recognizing the Origin of Your Storm

• Not all storms should be rebuked; discernment is key.
• Rebuking a “Jonah storm” (sent for redirection) is futile; instead, one must repent and realign.
• A “Jesus storm” (opposition while obeying God's command) calls for standing on God’s word and rebuking the disturbance.

Quote [27:45]:

"If you're in a Jonah storm, you are rebuking your redirection and you will not win. But if you're in a Jesus storm...you don't rebuke the storm. You do what Jesus did."

4. Jesus’ Method: Address the Source, Then the Symptoms

• Jesus first rebuked the wind (cause) and then said to the sea (effect), "Peace, be still."
• After upheaval, it is necessary to speak peace to our own internal disturbance, not just address external chaos.

Quote [32:50]:

“We spend so much energy pretending not to be disturbed...the energy we spend pretending not to be disturbed is wearing us out in the storm. ...You need to speak peace to the parts of your mind that have been disturbed."

5. The Three Diagnostic Questions for Storms

• To discern the nature of your storm, ask:

  1. Who sent me?
  2. Where am I going?
  3. What are my instructions?

• Honest answers reveal if you're in alignment with God's assignment, or if you’re headed the wrong way.

Quote [40:19]:

"When you answer those three questions and you know...honestly answer...you can look, and when you're in the midst of a storm, you know who sent this storm."

6. Jesus on the Other Side: The Assignment Continues (Mark 5)

• After calming the external storm, Jesus delivers a man possessed by “Legion,” mirroring His earlier approach: addressing the real source of disturbance and then restoring peace.
• Jesus’ focus is on doing the work, not on talking about the storm, and empowering others (the delivered man) to testify—becoming living evidence of transformation.

Quote [1:01:30]:

"People want to argue about Jesus, they cannot argue about his work. Our jobs be his work. Especially for people who knew you before you knew Jesus. They cannot argue with the work."

7. On Assignment After the Storm

• Deliverance from storms positions us for God’s next assignment—just like the delivered man commissioned to share his testimony.
• Quaye urges the church to stop identifying people by their past, but by their deliverance and ongoing assignment.

Quote [1:10:40]:

"Once [the principalities] are gone, we don’t hear about Legion. ...We have to stop identifying people by the principalities that have taken them over and instead deal with them as children of the Most High God."

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Coming Out Different:

  "People ought to see you and know that you got through a storm because of how different you are." — [04:52]

• Jonah vs. Jesus:

  "Other than the fact that they were both in a storm on a boat asleep, and that their first names begin with J, that’s all the similarities these two have; ends right there." — [06:52]

• Boats and Storms Analogy:

  "Boats are made specifically not to get water in them. That's kind of the whole point." — [18:41]

• On Faith in the Storm:

  "You need to understand that if the Word said you’re going to the other side, then whatever the storm does doesn’t matter. ...There is nothing that defeats the Word. God's word shall not return unto him void." — [22:08]

• On Rebuking vs. Redirection:

  "If you’re in a Jonah storm, you are rebuking your redirection and you will not win." — [27:45]

• Speaking Peace After Turbulence:

  "If I have to say 'peace, be still' for a week, ...for a month, ...for a year, however long it takes until the waves calm down, that's the time we need to take in the middle of a storm." — [36:40]

• The Role of Testimony:

  "Jesus said, you can argue about who I am, but you can't argue about my work. That man has been demon bound...and he spent less than two minutes with me, and he’s clothed, in his right mind, and he's coming to tell you all about me." — [1:02:13]

Key Interactive Segment: Q&A (Selected Topics)

On Losing Hope in a Long-Lasting Storm ([1:16:53])

• Advice: Release your expectations on timing; focus less on the storm itself and more on how God is working in you through it.
• Encouragement: Sometimes the longest part of the storm is about personal revelation and transformation, not just the passing of time.

On Clarity After a Storm ([1:22:45])

• If chaos outside ceases but clarity is missing, recognize unresolved chaos within. Speak peace and address inner disturbance, as Jonah failed to.

On Building Up Weak Faith ([1:28:20])

• Process: Acknowledge the area of weak faith, ask God for reminders of past faithfulness, and revisit your testimony to rekindle trust.

On Shutting Down Arguments About Jesus ([1:32:42])

• Approach: Let your life and transformation be the testimony. Direct arguers to the Word and trust the Holy Spirit for conviction, not argument.
• Quote: "I'm more worried about grieving the Spirit than I am about winning the argument."

Section Timestamps

• [00:54] — Introduction, concept of storms
• [06:52] — Jonah vs. Jesus, the two storms
• [13:00] — Lessons from Mark 4:35-41; the authority of Jesus in the storm
• [22:08] — The power of God’s word vs. the storm
• [27:45] — Discerning types of storms: reproof (Jonah) vs. opposition (Jesus)
• [32:50] — Jesus’ process: rebuke the root, then restore peace
• [40:19] — Three diagnostic questions in a storm
• [54:01] — Jesus delivers Legion: assignment after the storm
• [1:01:30] — Testimony of transformation as the greatest argument
• [1:16:53] — Q&A: Long-lasting storms
• [1:22:45] — Q&A: Clarity and inner chaos
• [1:28:20] — Q&A: Building faith after exposed weakness
• [1:32:42] — Q&A: How to address arguments about Jesus

Takeaways

• Storms are inevitable for those pursuing God's call. They come either as correction (Jonah) or as resistance when walking in obedience (Jesus).
• Discernment is crucial: Before acting, identify the origin of your storm. Are you being redirected or opposed for following God?
• Internal peace is as important as calming external chaos. Use both rebuke and self-regulation.
• After every storm comes new assignment. Your testimony and transformation become evidence of Christ’s reality for others.
• Don’t waste storms. Let them change you for the better.
• Walk in community and confirmation through consistent time in prayer, the Word, and among other believers.
• Your life after the storm should bring peace, testimony, and serve as living evidence for Christ.

For further reflection, remember: Who sent me? Where am I going? What are my instructions?
Let the answer guide your storm navigation and faith journey.