I live in the South, where storms are a given. We do not get a lot of snowstorms, as others experience in the North. However, we do get violent rain and windstorms. Sometimes they manifest themselves as a tornado or spin-offs from hurricanes. These are violent storms that can do millions of dollars’ worth of damage in a few minutes. They can take lives quickly and cause entire cities to become helpless. Storms are a part of life, both the ones we see in nature and the ones we experience in life. When sin entered the world, everything changed, even the nature of creation. No one goes through life without being touched by storms.
In Mark chapter 4:35-41, Jesus had been preaching all day, and the only way to get away from the crowds was to get in a boat and launch out onto the sea. He was God in the flesh, so He experienced tiredness just like we do. He went to the back of the boat and lay down to rest. While He was sleeping a storm came and the water was crashing into the boat and filling it with water in verse 37. The disciples were afraid, and they woke Jesus up and asked him if He cared that they perished. Jesus wakes up and rebukes the wind, and the sea is calm. All Jesus had to do was speak, and the seas obeyed.
Mark 4:35-39 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Their response causes me to ponder what they truly believed about Jesus. They wake Him, evidently believing He could do something to help. Yet, when He does, they are all puzzled. In verse 40, Jesus asks them why they are so fearful. After all, Jesus had been teaching them and performing miracles in their presence. They had acknowledged that He was the Messiah, yet they doubted. He challenges them about their lack of faith. Had they been with Him all this time and still not trusted Him? They had witnessed his healing of the lepers, the healing of many others, and the faith of the centurion. The centurion believed that all Jesus had to do was speak and his servant would be healed. He tells Jesus not to bother with coming to his house, to just speak. Jesus had displayed His power in many ways and proven His love for His disciples, yet they were fearful. He knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
Mark 4:40-41 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Finally, they talked among themselves and asked each other, “What manner of man is this that the wind and sea obey Him?” They were in shock; they were in awe at what they had just seen. They had witnessed the power of God, but were still in disbelief. What about you? Do you take Jesus at His word? Do you read to find out how He reacts in certain situations? Do you know Him well enough that you trust Him completely, or maybe you are like the disciples, in your head you know what can happen, but when it does, you are in disbelief?
We are to be people of faith, anchored in His word and depending on Him for everything. If you can trust Him to save you from your sins, why can you not trust Him with your needs? Why all the doubt and fears like the disciples had? Could it be that we really don’t fully believe? Maybe that’s why we don’t seek Him in all our situations. If we need an increase in our faith, it is because we don’t spend enough time with Him. We need to read His word to find out how he reacts in other situations and look for Him to do the same for us. Maybe it is because you do not feel your prayers were answered the way you wanted them, but that is not because Jesus lacked the power to fulfill your request. It is because you did not pray and ask things to be done according to His will; therefore, you did not accept the answer you received.
When the storms of life come, and they will, we must be ready to pray. We must be willing to accept any answer God sends. We must know His word well enough to have a discerning spirit. There will be times you feel He is in the back of the boat and is not paying attention, but you are wrong. He always knows everything and always will. Your storm will not take Him by surprise. We must pray in Jesus’ name and align our will with God’s will.
These storms will work for our good if we allow God to walk before us. They will mature us, and we will depend on Him more. Seeing God work will deepen our faith as we experience His power and love for us. John 16:33 teaches us that our peace is in Him. We will have tribulation in the world, but we can live above the circumstances because He has overcome the world.
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
