Abba's Dearly Beloved

'Even the wind and the waves obey him'

Mark 4:41 (NIV)

I don’t know about you but I love the sea. There is something mesmerising about its vastness, its depth and listening to the therapeutic, rhythmic crash or gentle lap of waves arriving at journeys end on the sea shore. Yet there is much within the character of the sea that can resemble what life can feel like sometimes for many of us. Unpredictable, fickle and stormy! One moment it displays devastating and destructive power that can throw us violently in turbulent stormy or even hurricane like conditions only to then give way to settled and calm conditions, here we feel clearly the warmth of the sun’s rays.

Like the disciples who found themselves suddenly out of their depth as an unexpected storm turned up out of nowhere, we struggle to cope, flinching at the waves and asking why God has allowed us to be consumed by the storm we are walking in. When we look at this passage in Mark 4:35-40, we see that Jesus was sleeping in the stern whilst his disciples battled the wind and the waves. The disciples were afraid they would drown as the waves crashed over the boat and Jesus who was asleep was to all intent and purpose oblivious to the storm that threatened to engulf them. In the end it becomes too much and they cry out to Jesus “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?‘ It wasn’t just that they felt in danger of drowning but also it seemed Jesus was indifferent to their danger. We can sometimes feel the same when we are going through intense challenges and difficulties and we cry out to God asking that same question: Jesus don’t you care that this is happening to me feeling, like the disciples probably did, a sense of injustice or frustration that our Lord appears to sleeping and silent during the most desperate moments we are going through.

We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t honestly feel this way sometimes but in doing so we, as the disciples did, loose sight of two crucial things. Firstly that Jesus never left the boat, he was still there as the storm raged with his disciples but knew he was firmly in his Father’s care. In the raging storm, Jesus never leaves our side. He remains with us. Several times in his Word, God promises to be with us, never leaving us nor forsaking us (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus reassures us that he will never abandon you or me as orphans (John 14:18) and that his love has never left us (Romans 8:38-39), for we are children of Father God, not orphans (John 1:12). Don’t think for one minute God has abandoned you. As Jesus in John 14:18 promises, he will come to us, remains present with us and bear our suffering, struggle or difficulty on his shoulders with us.

‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV).

As we see in the story, Jesus also has the power to deliver us out of the most difficult and turbulent of circumstances. This is the second thing we can loose sight of: that we can become so focused on the strong winds and high, choppy waves, i.e. our difficult circumstances or hardship and feel overwhelmed and fearful that we forget the one who has power over those same circumstances. This is not in any way to belittle the deep dark valley you may be walking through. Maybe you are going through grief at the loss of a loved one, or a painful break up, or dealing with debilitating health, or struggling with an unkind or controlling boss. However we can forget the one who walks with us still, who not only is in the storm with us but who has authority and remains sovereign over it . He has command of those same wind and waves that may cause us to fear or despair. The astounded disciples discovered this too:

‘He [Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet, Be still!” And the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other , “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him?‘ Mark 4:39-41 (NIV).

Nothing is too hard for Jesus. secured victory at the cross over sin, death, sickness and pain. Every difficult circumstance, health report and painful experience has to bow to his name and authority. As a follower of Jesus you and me carry this same authority through the power of Christ living in us, the Holy Spirit. Today accept his invitation to come to him, cast your cares upon him and trust him once again. There is also a second invitation to stand in the authority of Jesus and say no to allowing the wind and waves to dictate or distort your perspective and doubt God’s faithfulness. This anchor we have is faithful and immovable and holds us fast in the storms of life. So whatever you are dealing with, rest as David did in the truth that you WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13 NIV).

Prayer: Thank you Father for your faithfulness and never failing love, even amidst the struggle, the pain and challenges i am facing now or may have to face in the future. Thank you dear Jesus that you are my immovable rock in the storms of life; that you will never leave me nor forsake me and that your love is a shield around me. Today i give to you this difficulty and lay it at the foot of the cross. Please hold me and lead me through this storm and keep reminding me that you are in control. Thank you Father, in Jesus name. Amen.