It happened AGAIN. I thought I had settled the matter. I would trust God despite the spiraling down of circumstances. But as the tears ran down my cheeks, I realized I had once again pressed into the questions, the doubt, the fear, the pain. The situations crushed me as the seemingly unanswered prayers washed over me. Suddenly, I realized the storms of life were minimal compared to the storm within me. I needed Jesus to speak to my storm.
Mark 4:35-39
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him 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.
Jesus spoke to two natures that day. He spoke to the physical nature of the wind and the waves. However, He also spoke to the nature inside man, inside the disciples, inside me.
Mark 4:40
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Why are you responding to your circumstances instead of trusting me? We may respond with fear, control, depression, anger, bitterness, withdrawal, repression, avoidance, or a host of other options which combat faith. Yet, we are called to trust. Trust that Jesus is with us, trust that Jesus has a plan, trust that Jesus is in control, trust the timing Jesus has for us, trust that Jesus will overcome, trust, trust, trust.
We do not trust because in essence we do not know Jesus.
Mark 4:41
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Who is this? That is our question as well. For if we really knew, there would be no hesitation to trust. There would be no other response but to believe. What do I not yet know about Jesus that limits my faith? Thankfully, though, my little faith does not diminish the greatness of God. Although the disciples did not have faith, Jesus still calmed the storm. While there is much I still need to learn of Jesus, I do know He will calm the storm inside of me.