By Rex Stump
Wauseon, Ohio
The crowds were relentless. Jesus worked nonstop, touching, healing, and freeing people from sickness and possession. He was tired and needed to hit the pause button.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” Most of these men had been on the lake all their lives.
They knew just how quickly everything could change on a clear evening, as storms popped up quickly on the Sea of Galilee. But the evening was clear and peaceful.
Once in the open water, the disciples unfurled the sail, as Jesus sat in the back and rested on a cushion.
As the boat rocked gently back and forth, His eyes grew heavy, and, bit by bit, they began to close.
Soon He was asleep. The Divine Son of God was also human. He got hungry, thirsty, and even sleepy. It was calm, but then it all changed.
Suddenly a fierce gust of wind rose from the east, caught the sail, and rocked the boat violently. The dark clouds rolled in; lightning ran along the sky.
The disciples strained to keep the boat from capsizing. Waves slammed into the side of the boat and tossed water up over the side. And yet somehow, Jesus was still sleeping.
The disciples woke up Jesus, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He had shown compassion and love nonstop! And yet, they wondered if Jesus cared!
Have you ever felt that way? Life is harder than you can handle, the storms are dark, you want His help, but you can’t even sense His presence. Have you been there?
You can imagine Jesus stands with His hands toward the heavens and shouts, “Silence! Be still!” Immediately the wind died down and the sea grew calm.
Jesus demonstrated that He is the Lord of the wind and the waves. This deadly situation provided a great opportunity for the disciples to learn that Jesus Christ is truly Lord over all!
Just as the disciples witnessed the power of Jesus, we too must stand in fearful awe that the God we worship is almighty and powerful! The God we worship is Lord over all things, sickness, death, the forces of nature, and the demonic forces of the enemy.
Does God know of our storms? Does God care? Absolutely! He has the power to help. The question is, do we have faith to keep going?
I love this story of Jesus in Mark 4:35-41. Read it and become mesmerized by the power of God!
Psalm 89:8-9: O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful. You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
“Stay strong, stay focused … stay faithful!”
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Rex Stump is the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as a Pastor at True North Church in Wauseon, Ohio.