Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?

These are unusual times and it is understandable why you might be afraid. With one big storm bearing down on us, you may feel like there is no where to run. However, in the midst of every crisis, there are lessons we can learn. Today, I want to encourage you, whether you are in an actual storm, a physical storm of the body or mind, a financial crisis or a marital meltdown, there is always one place you can run.

Run to Jesus.

In the Gospel of Mark, we find the disciples facing their biggest storm, all the while Jesus is sleeping. It seems odd to me that Jesus would be sleeping in the midst of their crisis. But there is always more to Jesus than the obvious. When he awakens, he calms the storm and asks them some hard questions. As we read this story, let’s ask ourselves those same questions and see what Jesus is trying to teach us.

Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?

Mark 4:35-41 (NLT);

“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!””

It doesn’t matter what storm you are facing, you can always run to Jesus.

My family and I found ourselves in a similar situation as those disciples one day last summer. We had some friends join us for a day of boating on the lake. Our fun was just getting started when the wind began to pick up and our blue skies made way for an ominous black wall cloud.  To make matters worse, we were on a part of the lake with no outlet. With each lightning strike, my insides tightened, as my fear increased. We had no choice but to sit tight and weather the storm.

Frantic, I felt like those disciples running to a sleeping Jesus, “Jesus, Jesus, do you not care that we are about to die?” We all face storms in our lives, some bigger than others. During those times, you might feel alone or that Jesus is sleeping and doesn’t care. You are not alone. God is here and cares about each and everyone of us.

In the face of your storm/your fear/your crisis, the only thing you need to do is run to God. Those disciples, who had been living life with Jesus and witnessing His miracles, thought they were going to drown. Even still, they had just enough faith to know that in the midst of their storm, Jesus was the only one who could save them.

There’s an opportunity in every storm

Two miraculous things happened that day, Jesus calmed the storm and increased their faith. When you are afraid, running to Jesus is an act of faith. Watching what Jesus does next is a miracle in itself. Whatever storm you face has the potential to increase your faith and becomes the platform on which God’s glory is revealed.

Back to my story…

As the storm barreled down on us, I began counting the lightning strikes; one, two, six, twelve. In my panic, I started to pray, pleading for Jesus to save us. We braced ourselves for the worst. When all of a sudden, the storm took a hard left and skirted around us. God did two things, calming our fears and increasing our faith. In our eyes, God performed a miracle that day.

As you face the storms of your life, remember, run to Jesus. He will calm your fears, increase your faith and you might just glimpse God’s glory.

Let us pray;

God of all creation, when we are afraid, remind us that we can always run to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M