The
disciples were on the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm hit. The waves were
breaking over the sides and the boat was filling up with water. Jesus was in
the stern, sleeping on a cushion (Mark 4:38). Did you know this is the only time the Bible says Jesus was asleep?
That’s no accident. He was sleeping during the storm to make a point.
Jesus
was sleeping the stern, which was the lowest place in the boat. The boat
was filling up with water, and the disciples couldn’t bail it out fast enough. As
waves crashed into the boat, the water rushed down to the stern. Picture
Jesus sleeping as water is filling up the stern. He’s soaking wet, the boat is being tossed from one side to the other, yet
He doesn’t wake up! It’s nearly impossible to sleep under those conditions,
unless God calms you so much that you can. He might have slept through the
entire storm if the disciples hadn’t awakened Him.
When
we encounter a storm, we don’t know how dangerous it will get. Some storms have
little waves, while others have big waves. This was an intense
storm too big for them to handle. It looked like God wasn’t in control. The
disciples woke Jesus up and screamed, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going
to drown?” (Mark 4:38 NLT) Jesus commanded the winds to be still and the sea
became perfectly calm, which proved He was in control of the storm. He demonstrated
that He was in charge of their circumstances, whether He was sleeping or
awake.
The
disciples were amazed that He could calm the storm simply by speaking words.
And He can calm your fears as well by
speaking words to your heart. Listen carefully, and you will hear Him
whispering those words to your heart, “Peace, be still. Do not be troubled. Do
not be afraid.”
Are
you trusting God through the storm? You’ll
never be able to sleep through the storm like Jesus did until you first rest in
the fact that God is in control, even when your boat is filling up with water.
God is still with you, even if He appears to be sleeping and unconcerned. It’s
just a test. If the Lord doesn’t calm the storm you are going through, He
will keep you calm through the storm. Either way removes fear.
www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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BIBLE STUDY: Here
is a list of scriptures telling you to not be afraid.
For more information about why God can be trusted and how to be set free
from fear and worry, read The
Sure Cure for Worry
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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
