- Image via Wikipedia
Yesterday in Sunday school, my kids and I looked at Mark 4:35-41, in which Jesus calms a storm on the sea of Galilee. We had an interesting mix as the youth teacher was paged at the last minute so I had a range from 6-16, but the kids have had me for a teacher long enough that they are getting good at spotting the interesting details in a story. While we would expect townies and landlubbers like say, Matthew or Judas, to be freaked out by a storm on the water, four of the thirteen men on the boat were experienced fishermen. They had been through storms before, but this one was enough to worry them. This was a huge storm. My son suggested it was a waterspout- a tornado on water. Here are some of my own takeaways from the lesson- 1. Storms are going to blow up suddenly and without warning. 2. They may be the kind I'm used to dealing with, (like the fishermen were used to storms) or they may be something completely foreign (like the townies were experiencing). 3. How long do I try to handle things on my own, not wanting to 'bother' Jesus? Until it becomes a life-or-death situation? 4. How quick am I to accuse Jesus of not caring? (v. 38) 5. Why I am so fearful? How is it that I have no faith? (v. 40) I have an answer to that last one. For me, the key to the whole story is the statement Jesus makes in v.35 "Let us cross over to the other side." He didn't say 'let's try' or 'I hope we make it'. He was completely sure of His mission, and confident that God would see Him through until the completion of it. I get fearful and lose faith because a.) I lose sight of what I'm doing or where I'm going, SO b.) I'm not so sure God is going to bring me through it. To help me out with some of this, my husband is giving me a fabulous gift. A week from today, I'm heading to Indy for an early Tuesday flight to a Florida beach for a vacation alone with God. Alone with God. Just me, and God and the beach. I know He's always had the answers. I think I'm ready to hear them.
