Picture the scene. The disciples are in a boat with Jesus, the one that spoke the seas into being. Suddenly a treacherous storm hits. The winds are howling and the waves are smashing. I can picture the disciples frantically trying to steady the sail and bail the water out of the boat. I can picture them panicking because none of their efforts were improving their situation. I can picture them looking at one another and exclaiming: “We’re doomed!” I can see them looking at Jesus as he calmly slept, clearly not phased by the storm they had encountered and crying out, “Don’t you care if we drown?”
Then Jesus sat up and calmly rebuked the storm, “Quiet! Be still!” Incidentally, if you notice in the beginning of the story, it was Jesus who had said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Jesus was the one who had decided it was time to set sail! (Mark 4:35-41)
This is the perfect analogy of the storms of my life. In the midst of walking with Jesus, praying and reading my Bible every day, I forget that I will not always experience smooth sailing. Before I know it, life happens and the winds and the waves begin to overpower my life. And what is my first response? To try to bail myself out, of course! I grab the wheel and start trying to steady the sail against the fierce winds. I frantically search for buckets to empty the water being thrown at me by the overpowering waves. But the storm just keeps hitting me and I can’t seem to do anything to save myself.
It usually takes a while, but eventually I remember that Jesus is right here with me and he is not surprised or worried about the storm I’m in. When he’s ready, he will simply speak and the storm will subside. In the meantime, he looks at me as I panic at my inability to gain control and he asks me: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)