Life on Earth is unpredictable just like the weather. One day it’s nice and sunny outside and the next day you might be stuck in the middle of a storm. There are trained weather experts who can predict the changes in weather and inform us ahead of time so that we can be prepared for what is to come. Now if only we had someone who can predict how things are going to change in our life? The storms of this life seem to take us by surprise and most of the time we are not ready to face them.
In Mark 4:35-41, we get to read about one of Jesus’s famous miracles, “The calming of the Storm.” Jesus and his disciples were in the boat together when a storm came out of nowhere and started tossing the boat around. The waves were so high that the boat was almost swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him up 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!”
What is amazing about this whole story is the reaction of the disciples. The God of all creation is in the boat with them and they could have said something like “Jesus please help us, we know you can stop this storm”. Instead, they try to guilt-trip Jesus by telling him “Don’t you care if we drown? Jesus was with them the whole time and instead of trusting in him and asking him for help, they tell him that He doesn’t care for them. What a classic human move!
Before you go on to Judge the disciples, ask yourself this question “When caught in a storm would you trust in Jesus and cry out to him for help or would you say something else like the disciples did?” How many times have we blamed God for putting us in tough situations and said things like “God why did you let this happen to me?”, “God if you really care for me then make this go away”, “Jesus if you are really out there then please work a miracle”.
If we are still praying like this then we have not grown as Christians. Jesus has promised us that He is always with us. If you are caught in one of the storms of this life then you can be rest assured that He is right there in the boat with you. He knows your situation and it is up to you to ask him for help. It is not a time to question the love that Jesus has for you or his authenticity. It is an opportunity for you to show your faith and trust in Jesus completely. Whatever happens, He is with you in the midst of the storm and that should give you the hope you need to get through it.