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Mark 4:35-41 NIV
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
As the deafening thunder roars in our ears, we are unable to hear anything else except the boom. Distracted and unable to concentrate as we sway to and fro, we’re unable to focus on the tasks at hand. The lightning flashes across the dark angry skies, instantly but momentarily blinding us. Just as we regain our eyesight another flash forces our eyes shut tight. We feel like we lost our way, paralyzed and unable to move because we can’t see our feet or our surroundings. We don’t know where we should step next.
A giant wave crashes against us knocking us to our knees and just when we have a moment to gasp for air another wave hits us, pushing us further down while drowning our lungs in the process. Unable to breathe, unable to see, unable to hear, we sit trying to gather our consciousness in order to put together some futile plan.
The boat we are floating in is getting full of water and the life-jacket we’re wearing is just not working anymore. When the waves are coming we can’t even see what is happening around us. We just feel the impact and brace ourselves for the aftermath. We know there is going to be damage but we just don’t know how much damage we will have…or how much more we can take. As each wave pierces through our bodies we become fearful and when they don’t stop coming, the fear cripples us. Is this boat going to last? Will it capsize? We need to get a bucket and empty the boat. We need to do something. We need to get out of this storm! We need to save ourselves.
A lot of times life feels like one big giant storm. We are unable to hear God’s word through the thunder. Unable to see his hands at work through the lightning because we feel blind. Just like we thought the life-jacket wasn’t working, we are discounting God’s magnificent power. He is our life-jacket. Fear creeps in and slowly takes over inviting doubt to accompany our minds. We make a plan, not relying on the life-jacket, not relying on our savior and try to save ourselves. God.
Jesus slept through the storm because he was able to completely trust his father. Sometimes it may feel like God does not care about our problems when in fact he cares about us and everything around us. He is not worried about our problems because he already has it under control. In fact, it’s us that stops him from taking control of the problem. We get in the way and start trying to empty the boat ourselves leaving him no choice but to stand back until we turn to him and give him complete control. It is only when we learn to trust him completely and surrender our problems that he will begin to work in our favor.
What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!