Mark 4:35-41: The same account can also be found in Matthew 8 and Luke 8. Jesus and His disciples are heading "to the other side" when suddenly a "furious squall," as the NIV calls it, came. Jesus knew before they left shore that this storm would come, yet He still led the disciples out onto the water. He had the power to keep it from coming. The storm was so bad that waves were coming over onto the boat. Yet, during this horrendous storm, Jesus is asleep. The disciples had to go awaken Him, and they didn't do it calmly. I can imagine them yelling with panic in their voices, "Get up! Get up! How can You still be sleeping? Don't You care if we drown?!" Jesus got up, quieted the storm, and then rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. I bet there was silence and awe as the storm stopped instantly. Can you imagine being the other boats watching this whole scene play out? Did they see the panic of the disciples? Did they hear or see Jesus speak the words, "Quiet! Be still!?" I wonder what went through their minds as they saw all this happening. As I read this passage, I picture in my mind scenes from the movie A Perfect Storm. Waves are continually crashing over the boat; the boat is thrashing wildly in the water, threatening to capsize. I would have been scared to death and wondering, along with the disciples, how in the world Jesus could sleep through it all.
Why did Jesus allow this storm to come? Why does God allow storms in my life? As a Christian, storms will come in my life. I have experienced some and at other times, I've been caught in someone else's storm trying to help them out of it. It seemed at times during those storms that God was silent, that He didn't care what I was going through. He didn't seem to be doing anything to calm the storm. There are people in the Bible who experienced those same feelings. If you have never read the book of Habakkuk, I encourage you to do so. It's a short book, only 3 chapters. Habakkuk complains to God asking Him why He wasn't answering; why He was being silent. God's first reply was that He was doing something but Habakkuk wouldn't believe it even if he was told. The conversation between Habakkuk and God continues for a little bit and then Habakkuk has a beautiful response in the end "...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Read through the Psalms as well. In some of the Psalms, David expresses some of those same frustrations asking God why the wicked are getting away with evil, but he always returns to the fact that God is sovereign and He is still on the throne. In looking at our world today, there is so much evil and wickedness, and I catch myself wondering where God is in all this. If He has the power to stop it, why doesn't He? Passages like the one today and in Habakkuk and the Psalms all point me back to the fact that God is still there. He is still on His throne. He is still working, although I may not be able to see it or I don't understand what He's doing. Sometimes, my eyes have become so blinded, it's hard to see God's hand working. Sometimes, I believe God does remain silent to chisel away at me and mold me into the person He wants me to become. I can't become that person if my faith is stagnant. Other times God allows the storms in my life not for my benefit, but for those watching me. I need to be mindful of my responses knowing that others are watching me. Am I going to allow others to see God through the way I respond?
In Psalm 46:10, God commands me, "Be still and know that I am God." The whole psalm, as a matter of fact, talks about how God is still in control. In this busy day and age, it is so hard to just be still. This type of being still that God is commanding does not include TV, books (other than the Bible), computer, etc. I find myself feeling guilty when I just sit and take time to be still because there's always so much to do. I get so used to multitasking, I feel I need to be doing something when I'm sitting.
How do I experience that peace that Jesus exhibited during the storm? Paul, in Philippians 4:7 talks about having God's peace which he says "transcends all understanding." I cannot comprehend the peace of God. When the world sees me at peace in the midst of the storm, they can't grasp that peace I have, just like the disciples couldn't understand how Jesus could be asleep during this storm. In the previous verse, Paul tells us how I can have God's peace. He tells me to stop worrying. Worry will only make those waves grow larger and the storm seem even worse than it may really be. I am to replace my worries with prayer. I need to take my troubles to God and leave them with Him and I also need to shift my focus to what God has done in my life and thank Him for His working. I can't allow that worry to blind my eyes to what God is doing.
God is still on His throne! Nothing and no one can dethrone Him! I already know who is victorious in the end. I need to cling to God's promises as I go through storms; take time to be still and know that He is God. He never leaves, even though He may appear silent or I may not be able to see Him through the waves, wind, and rain. There is a lot that God does behind the scenes that I don't see.
I am reminded of a song from a while back, by Babbie Mason titled Trust His Heart. The words in the chorus state: "When you don't understand, When you can't see His plan, When you can't trace His hand, Trust His Heart."
Storms will come in this life. God is the only One Who can calm those storms. I have to learn to trust Him. That's something I find very difficult to do at times because I don't understand the why or where He's taking me or what in the world He's doing. I like to plan, to know where I'm going and why I'm doing what I'm doing, but God doesn't always reveal that to me right away and oftentimes when He does reveal something, it's only a small portion.
The answer to today's title "Don't You Care?" is a resounding "Yes!" God does care! It is because of His care and great love for me that He allows these storms to come. Instead of allowing these storms to make me angry and run from Him, I need to run into His arms and let Him walk with me and even sometimes carry me through; let Him to give me His peace. It's my choice.
Why did Jesus allow this storm to come? Why does God allow storms in my life? As a Christian, storms will come in my life. I have experienced some and at other times, I've been caught in someone else's storm trying to help them out of it. It seemed at times during those storms that God was silent, that He didn't care what I was going through. He didn't seem to be doing anything to calm the storm. There are people in the Bible who experienced those same feelings. If you have never read the book of Habakkuk, I encourage you to do so. It's a short book, only 3 chapters. Habakkuk complains to God asking Him why He wasn't answering; why He was being silent. God's first reply was that He was doing something but Habakkuk wouldn't believe it even if he was told. The conversation between Habakkuk and God continues for a little bit and then Habakkuk has a beautiful response in the end "...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Read through the Psalms as well. In some of the Psalms, David expresses some of those same frustrations asking God why the wicked are getting away with evil, but he always returns to the fact that God is sovereign and He is still on the throne. In looking at our world today, there is so much evil and wickedness, and I catch myself wondering where God is in all this. If He has the power to stop it, why doesn't He? Passages like the one today and in Habakkuk and the Psalms all point me back to the fact that God is still there. He is still on His throne. He is still working, although I may not be able to see it or I don't understand what He's doing. Sometimes, my eyes have become so blinded, it's hard to see God's hand working. Sometimes, I believe God does remain silent to chisel away at me and mold me into the person He wants me to become. I can't become that person if my faith is stagnant. Other times God allows the storms in my life not for my benefit, but for those watching me. I need to be mindful of my responses knowing that others are watching me. Am I going to allow others to see God through the way I respond?
In Psalm 46:10, God commands me, "Be still and know that I am God." The whole psalm, as a matter of fact, talks about how God is still in control. In this busy day and age, it is so hard to just be still. This type of being still that God is commanding does not include TV, books (other than the Bible), computer, etc. I find myself feeling guilty when I just sit and take time to be still because there's always so much to do. I get so used to multitasking, I feel I need to be doing something when I'm sitting.
How do I experience that peace that Jesus exhibited during the storm? Paul, in Philippians 4:7 talks about having God's peace which he says "transcends all understanding." I cannot comprehend the peace of God. When the world sees me at peace in the midst of the storm, they can't grasp that peace I have, just like the disciples couldn't understand how Jesus could be asleep during this storm. In the previous verse, Paul tells us how I can have God's peace. He tells me to stop worrying. Worry will only make those waves grow larger and the storm seem even worse than it may really be. I am to replace my worries with prayer. I need to take my troubles to God and leave them with Him and I also need to shift my focus to what God has done in my life and thank Him for His working. I can't allow that worry to blind my eyes to what God is doing.
God is still on His throne! Nothing and no one can dethrone Him! I already know who is victorious in the end. I need to cling to God's promises as I go through storms; take time to be still and know that He is God. He never leaves, even though He may appear silent or I may not be able to see Him through the waves, wind, and rain. There is a lot that God does behind the scenes that I don't see.
I am reminded of a song from a while back, by Babbie Mason titled Trust His Heart. The words in the chorus state: "When you don't understand, When you can't see His plan, When you can't trace His hand, Trust His Heart."
Storms will come in this life. God is the only One Who can calm those storms. I have to learn to trust Him. That's something I find very difficult to do at times because I don't understand the why or where He's taking me or what in the world He's doing. I like to plan, to know where I'm going and why I'm doing what I'm doing, but God doesn't always reveal that to me right away and oftentimes when He does reveal something, it's only a small portion.
The answer to today's title "Don't You Care?" is a resounding "Yes!" God does care! It is because of His care and great love for me that He allows these storms to come. Instead of allowing these storms to make me angry and run from Him, I need to run into His arms and let Him walk with me and even sometimes carry me through; let Him to give me His peace. It's my choice.
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