Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:38-41 NIV)
Are you facing storms in your life? Storms come in one of four categories (or often a combination): financial, physical, vocational, or spiritual. A physical storm may batter our finances and render us unable to work. Financial, physical and vocational storms often have a spiritual component that makes weathering the storm even more challenging.
Storms make us feel out of control. They remind us that web cannot direct every action of our lives; that our formulas for success can only take us so far. But storms are very real. They shroud us in darkness and toss us about like a leaf on a breezy fall day. Waves crash against us and the boat begins to break apart.
And Jesus is there in the boat…sleeping! We are perplexed, frustrated, angry, wondering why He doesn’t come to our rescue. Can’t He see that we are battered and bruised trying to keep our head above water and find our way in the dark while He seems oblivious to the terror that swirls about us?
We know He has the power to calm the storm, and we begin to wonder what sin we have left unconfessed that prevents Him from intervening. Are we so unworthy? Are we so un-savable? No! Here’s what Jesus wants us to know: If He is in the boat, you can trust it will be OK. He wants you to stop looking at the storm and see your Savior.
We focus on ourselves and the storm. We begin to question the character of God. We want to know why this is happening and why He isn’t doing anything to stop it. From our perspective it doesn’t make sense. But we have forgotten that our perspective isn’t the point. We must learn, as Job did, that God is sovereign and has His reasons for allowing storms in our lives. Like Job, we must be able to say, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
And we can trust Him, even when the storm ravages on longer than we think we can stand it. In the end Jesus does stand up in the boat and speaks to the wind, causing it to cease its pounding. And He embraces us and consoles us as only He can. He whispers gently as we sob into His shoulder, relieved by His strength and comfort.
*thanks to Chris Hruska at Citylight Church Omaha for the inspiration. Great message on 1/26/14
Live/Right Devotional 