My Sunday school kids and I looked at Mark 4:35-41, in which Jesus calms a storm on the sea of Galilee. 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. Some suggested it was a waterspout- a tornado on water.
Here are some of my own storm 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)
Then I had some difficult questions-
1. How long do I try to handle things on my own, not wanting to ‘bother’ Jesus? Until it becomes a life-or-death situation?
2. How quick am I to accuse Jesus of not caring? (v. 38)
3. Why I am so fearful? How is it that I have no faith? (v. 40)
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 don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going, so… b.) I’m not so sure God is going to bring me through it.
What storm takeaways do you have from the storms in your life?
Want more? 4 Lessons Learned in a Storm
This post is quite fitting seeing as we had a major storm last night! 🙂 I think what I learn from storms all the time is not fear (like you mentioned), because God will take care of me and others. I think wondering why He doesn't care may be what people who have gone through terrible natural disasters and have lost their homes and possessions and maybe even family. But, this is really reassuring to remember not to fear the storm! Thanks for the post!