Where is Jesus in The Storm?

“That day when evening came, he [Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side [of the lake, in a boat]’. . . A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm” Mark 4: 35, 37-39.

This passage alludes to the account where Jesus and the disciples are traveling across a lake in a boat when a sudden storm threatens to capsize the vessel. To read the entire story click this link. Jesus calms the storm, yes, but why didn’t He rebuke it at its onset?

Why did He allow the disciples to be afraid and almost drown before He took action? Is it that He didn’t know the storm was coming? Was He waiting for them to pray?

I think it absolutely is a testimony to how He delivers us out of our distress when we pray. But I believe there’s another lesson to be learned here as well.

Mama, Why Didn’t He Help Quicker?

It reminds me of a time when I was driving on an icy Minnesota road one winter with my young son, Noah. Suddenly I began to slip and slide on ice. I started praying frantically, “Oh, God! Please Help! Oh God! Oh God!

We spun out, hit a snowbank, but, ended up safely on the side of the road. Noah, who must have been four or five at the time, was a little dismayed that we experienced such an ordeal in spite of my prayers. And he asked me in his little earnest baritone voice “mama, why didn’t He help quicker?’

From what I can tell, there is only one way for our Christian faith to be strengthened and perfected in love. And that’s by going through trials that test it. Trials both reveal faith and strengthen it.

Jesus had said they were going to the other side of the lake (vs 35), so the disciples had good reason to believe they were, in fact, going to the other side. In spite of what appeared to be contradictory circumstances.

Storms Must Come

If the disciples had faith, the storm would’ve revealed it. They would’ve remained calm and peaceful in the midst of it, knowing Jesus would make good on His promise, come what may.

And it would’ve strengthened their faith had they clung to the promise in spite of the temptation to feel overwhelmed and afraid.

But, from the text, it doesn’t appear that they were peaceful. Or that they even had a measure of faith. In fact, they panicked and accused Jesus of not caring. This revealed a lack of faith.

I believe the storm had to be allowed for two reasons. First, so the disciples could see how much faith they really had (or didn’t have). And second, if they lacked faith, it was an opportunity to strengthen it.

In spite of their fears, if they would’ve clung to the promise (that they would get to the other side) and used it as an opportunity to learn to walk by faith and not sight, their faith would’ve endured the storm. It would have been strengthened.

Jesus Calms the Storm, But He Lets Us Sweat a Little First

But why is God so insistent that we gain endurance in our faith at such a high and painful price? Why would God allow me to almost drown and be terrified for its sake? I think it all comes down to this one idea: “. . . without faith, it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6.

It’s by faith that God achieves an important goal for His children. And that is that we be perfected in love, which is to be righteous. This is an integral goal of our faith.

I think the reason it’s impossible to please God without faith is because it’s impossible to be perfected in love or be righteous without it. It’s by faith that we receive our inheritance in Christ and enter our promise land.

We can’t receive God’s love or walk in love unless we have faith. We won’t be a blessing to others, and He consequently can’t pour out blessings on us unless we walk in love.

And I believe the way God is glorified in our lives is through our expression of love to others and then His expression of love to us in return. “By this is My Father glorified that you bear much fruit (love)“John 15:8.

This glorifies Him because when we’re good to people, they give thanks to God for it. Also, when we’re good to people, the blessing overflows to us as well. And this makes Him look good. So, ultimately, without faith it’s impossible to glorify God. And that’s what it’s all about.

For a post similar to Where is Jesus in the Storm, see The Testing of Abraham: When God Doesn’t Make Sense.

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