When Jesus Sleeps In The Storm
No one knows what will happen tomorrow. Right now, with the world literally changing every day, we are realizing that none of us has ever known what will happen tomorrow. We’ve made plans, only to postpone them. We’ve written on our calendars, only to throw them away. Powerful is the temptation to find comfort in panic - the trust in ourselves to scramble together a solution when our adrenaline is running high and our faith in God is running low. Yet He remains the same. Actually, as we speak, He might be sleeping on the deck.
“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey him.’” - Matthew 8:24-26
I couldn’t think of a worse time for the disciples to see Jesus sleeping. They were facing real death at the hands of nature, and as far as they understood, their leader didn’t even care enough to stay awake (see Mark 4:38). They assume the worst of Jesus, because they are in a hopeless situation that they can’t get themselves out of, and they can’t conceive how He allowed such a thing to happen. Then, with only a few words, Jesus calms the storm. However, His probing question lingers in the air. “Why are you so afraid?”
When He asks that question, Jesus is not ignoring the magnitude of the storm, but rather reminding the disciples of the magnitude of God. He who spoke “Let it be!” and there it was! With one declaration, He created the galaxies and stars and planets and oceans and lands and creatures. He has the power. He has the plan. A plan to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Our only forever-hope is God - not our health, our jobs, our money, or even our family. When we have questions, He is the Answer.
However, even though our lives are frail and our bodies are temporary, this does not mean that He does not care about them.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” - Matthew 6:26-30
I encourage you to put your faith, even if it is little, in Jesus every day. If you feel like He is sleeping, go to Him in prayer. When the disciples doubted Jesus, they still cried out to Him, and He still answered them. You have permission to cry out to Him, over and over again. He is patient. He is faithful. He is the tamer of storms, the provision of birds, and the clothier of lilies. Keep your eyes on Him, and He will come through for you.