The disciples were Jesus’ chosen, unique followers. On this particular day they had personally witnessed Jesus performing many mighty miracles and had heard Him proclaiming undeniable wisdom and truth. In the safety of His presence, it was easy for then to have faith as they basked in His gentle love and encountered His awesome power.
Later that evening, Jesus said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” They got into the boat, and Jesus went to sleep in the stern. Then a furious windstorm arose, and the waves beat on the boat so that it was filling with water. The disciples started freaking out! In this frightened state, they woke the Master and charged Him: “Don’t You care that we are perishing?”
When storms arise in our lives, we are often like the disciples. Instead of holding on to the belief that Christ loves us and will see us through the process to safety, we expect Him to be unfaithful to us. We point a finger at Him and accuse Him of not caring.
Jesus answered the disciples’ accusation with questions: “Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith, no firm trust in Me?” He wanted them to look within their hearts and work out the answers that would help them build up their future faith. He was not mad at the disciples for lacking faith In Him, and He did not withhold deliverance from the problem because of it. He arose and rebuked the wind and sea, saying, “Peace, be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a perfect peacefulness. The disciples were in a state of wonder and awe, recognizing that Jesus was the Messiah.
Are you in the middle of a storm? Jesus knows all about it and will see you through to safety, even if your faith totters because He is faithful!
“They awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Master, do You not care that we are perishing?’ He said to them, ‘Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith [no firmly relying trust]?’ And they were filled with great awe and said one to another, ‘Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?'” (Mark 4:38b, 40-41).
