Shelter from the storms
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)
Think for a moment about what it is that you are most afraid of.
If you were to take into consideration all the things which might affect you and make you afraid, I’m pretty sure that there would be some weather related things on your list. You would likely be afraid if you knew that you or your loved ones were in the path of a hurricane or a tornado. Think of how many small children (and not so small children) are afraid of a thunderstorm or a heavy rain storm with lots of lightning.
If you read the verses in Mark chapter 4 around our verse for this week, you will find Jesus’ disciples in a boat with Jesus in the middle of a lake when a storm comes up. You would think that having Jesus in a boat with you would give you a real sense of security and safety. However in this situation Jesus was sleeping on the boat when a storm came up. The disciples immediately became filled with fear thinking that the boat was going to capsize or sink and they were going to drown.
What happened next must have been absolutely amazing. Having been awoken from his sleep, Jesus got up and with only the power of his words calmed the storm. You would think that such a situation would have helped the disciples let go of their fear and know that they had nothing at all to fear.
The very next verse in this Bible story tells us this “He (Jesus) said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”. Jesus helps his disciples and each of us understand that our fears come from a lack of faith. That is not pleasant to hear or realize, but the blunt truth from our Savior is something we need to hear and realize.
But does it have to be a literal storm to make us afraid? Aren’t there other “storms” in life which can fill us with fear in a heartbeat? Cancer? Other health situations? Sudden death of someone near and dear to us? Financial challenges? Family issues? There are probably other things which you immediately add to that list.
God does not promise us or even hint that we will not have to endure physical and/or literal storms in our life. As a matter of fact, he tells us that we will have such challenges – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
What we need to understand and hold on to is Jesus’ assurance that he has overcome any and every thing which causes us to fear. Our challenge is that as long as we live in this sinful world we will not have a perfect faith. We will struggle to deal with our fears. We will falter and fall and succumb to our fears. When we find ourselves in those situations we can do nothing better than to find shelter from the storms of our life in the peace and security which Jesus alone can give us.
Let Jesus be your shelter from your fears and your storms!