Jesus in the Storm
“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:35-38
I love Mark’s account of this story. Being on a boat during any kind of crazy storm sounds like my worst nightmare, but this one had to have been really bad. After all, many of the disciples were fishermen. Surely they had been on the water in a storm before.
This truly must have been a “no control” situation, and I can only imagine the fear and feeling of hopelessness the disciples experienced as they tried to get to safety… and I wonder what they felt as they saw their leader sleeping through it?!
Do you ever find yourself in a storm, wondering if Jesus is just “sleeping through it?” Have you ever asked Him, “Lord, where in the world are you?! I’m just hanging out down here with no direction for my life, I didn’t get into the college I want, my friends are all moving on, and I. Am. Still. Single. So when you feel like waking up, I could really use some help.” Storms can leave us feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and very much alone.
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly, the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4:39-41).
When Jesus stood up and calmed this storm, I imagine that He left more than a few of his disciples dumbfounded. When I think about storms Jesus has calmed in my life, it leaves me breathless. His grace and kindness are so undeserved, especially with my tendency to handle storms in the most human ways possible. Sometimes though, the wind and waves of life can keep going crazy for a while, but God can use even our darkest moments to love us and reveal more of who He is.
Whatever your storm is today, big or small, please take this opportunity to draw closer to your Heavenly Father. Jesus is in it with you and knows exactly what is next.