There’s story in the Bible when Jesus lifted His hands to calm the storm that the disciples were in.
Right now, you’re going through a storm and you’re having a hard time trusting Jesus with it.
Let’s go to God’s Word and see how He is still in the business of calming storms in our lives.
Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
Mark 4:35-41
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
The Waves Were Out of the Disciples Control
The waves were out of the control of anyone in the boat. They were just along for the ride.
They could do everything possible to try and stay afloat, but worrying about the storm being out of their control wasn’t going to help.
There are things in your life right now that are out of control. And you’re doing everything possible to stay afloat.
But what I want to suggest to you, is that worrying doesn’t help anything.
It can seem like the mature thing to do – like the saying, “Moms are supposed to worry.”
Worrying can make us feel like we’re doing something useful, when really, it’s not helpful to us at all.
The Waves Were In Jesus’s Control
Peace. Be still.
With three words, Jesus showed that He was in control.
He didn’t have to use words. He’s all powerful. But I believe He used words to build the faith of the disciples.
Could Jesus have stopped the wind and waves right away? Or maybe even told the wind and waves to be still so they could have a peaceful trip?
Of course!
Then why didn’t He?
Some people believe that when you become a Christian, then every day is happy and filled with roses and nothing bad ever happens again.
But that’s not true.
The disciples didn’t experience the storm because they were out of God’s will. Jesus was right there with them.
Jesus *Expected* the Disciples to Not Fear
It was Jesus’s idea to go over my boat to the other side.
God allows circumstances in our lives to be out of our control to show us our need for Him.
Sometimes when you’re going through a struggle, people will say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
While people who say this mean well, it’s not Scriptural in regards to crisis and struggle. That verse is actually talking about temptation. The truth is that God gives us more than we can handle all the time.
That may not sound like an encouraging word, but it’s true.
How can I say that?
Well, I’m not alone in my belief, the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians, chapter 1,
“We do not want you to be uninformed about the troubles we experienced. We were under great pressure, FAR BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO ENDURE, so that we despaired of life itself.
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On Him, we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”
Paul said that he was under great pressure, far beyond what he was able to endure. God gives us more than we can handle, so that there’s no choice but to rely on Him.
The opposite of fear is relying on God.
1 John 4:18 says, “…perfect love casts out fear.”
What is “perfect love”?
It is the gospel of Christ. The Perfect Love He had for us to die on the cross for us.
And your faith in His Perfect Love is what will cast out your fear.
Fear Not: Faith in the Midst of Uncertainty
In the Thrive Bible Study Vault, there’s a Bible study about fear. We’re taking lessons from great heroes of the faith and learning how God was willing and able to calm the storms in their lives and how He wants to do the same for us.
If fear is something you struggle with, this 4 week Bible study is for you. Join the Thrive Bible Study Vault now, get the first 30 days free, and try it out for yourself!
