Does it seem like
you’re having a nightmare and you just can’t seem to wake up? We were just going about our business and
then WHAM!! The circumstances of life
just hit us over the head! None of us
had planned an extended home stay, but that’s what we’ve gotten. Whatever we had planned, there’s a NEW
plan. Are you feeling a bit swamped and overwhelmed? A bit afraid?
I know we’re all in the boat together, but what if we peek into a
different boat for perspective?
On the same day, when evening
had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now
when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.
And other little boats were also with Him. And a great
windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already
filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him
and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are
perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the
wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and
there was a great calm. But He said to
them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no
faith?” Mark 4:35-40
The disciples were going about their ordinary day-to-day
business of getting from point A to point B with Jesus. Yet a huge
storm interrupted their journey and, at least to THEM, seemed to threaten their
lives. Aren’t there times when you kind of feel like the boat you’re
in is taking on water? That the storm is too great to make any
headway? That’s EXACTLY how the disciples felt. And where
was Jesus? S-L-E-E-P-I-N-G. They were indignant! Didn’t
Jesus care about them at all? How could He let them just DIE as they
were trying to serve Him?
There are always lessons to learn from the pages of
Scripture, so let me just boldly make some points for us both:
1. The storm wasn’t as bad as it seemed. The
disciples weren’t going to die; they just felt like they
might. Whatever you’re facing right now – all the swirling debris
and chaos – probably isn’t going to kill you.
2. Jesus cares more about your faith
than your circumstances. In fact, He USES the challenges we face
to GROW our faith. I suspect the disciples got the point, but the
greater questions is, “Do I get it?”
What is God teaching me in the midst of THIS storm?
3. The peace and calm we seek is only
found in Jesus. It was (and is) only Jesus who could calm the
storm. Note that they didn’t wake Him and ask Him to calm the
storm. They only woke Him to accuse Him of not caring about them. Don’t be guilty of doing the same.
I want to quickly add that not all of the swirling and chaos
in our lives is there because God wants to use it to grow us. Some
of the worry we have is because we haven’t prepared for the struggle we’re
facing – either financially, physically, or spiritually. If you’re worried that you’ll make it through,
or if you share the fear of the disciples in the boat and wonder if God cares,
there is an easy answer. Stop what you’re doing immediately, close
your eyes, and look for Jesus. He’s there, ready to be the anchor
for your soul; your resting place; your life-preserver, if need
be. Though He rested on the boat that day with the disciples, He
does not rest or sleep now. He is ALWAYS praying for you, just
waiting for you to reach out to Him. Because He cares for you. Thank God that no matter how severe the storm,
that never changes.
In the boat with you,
Jacob
