Mark 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Mark 3:1-4:41.

“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!” and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:37-39).

I can imagine what it was like in that storm. Some were bailing water. Some were frantically trying to row to shore. Some were puking their guts out over the side. Jesus was sleeping. I can imagine that too because sometimes I feel like God is not paying attention to my fears and struggles. Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck on a boat in the middle of a stormy sea and no one is there to help. “Don’t you care?!” I cry to the heavens.

Then I remember this story. Just because the storm is going on doesn’t mean Jesus won’t take care of me. The fact is that even before Jesus finally calmed the storm, no one on that boat died. He hadn’t let them get hurt. He was in complete control. And then He demonstrated that control by saying, “Peace! Be still!,” and the wind and sea calmed.

Like the disciples, I can maintain my faith in Jesus throughout the worst storms. I can know that He will carry me through. He will not let me go through more than I can handle by His grace (I Corinthians 10:13). He does care, but that doesn’t mean He will act on my timetable.

Jesus may be sleeping right now (please understand the metaphor here), but He is in control. I just need to do the next right thing and let Jesus do His thing in His time.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is Luke 7:1-8:56.

“And as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger” (Luke 8:23).

What? God in the flesh asleep on the job? How can that be? Doesn’t He know we are in danger? Doesn’t He know we might perish? Doesn’t He know if He doesn’t act right now all will be lost?

I know that feeling. Too many times I’ve thought God was asleep on the job. Why doesn’t He fix this problem? Why doesn’t He resolve that issue? Why doesn’t He help me overcome some struggle? I can’t see the ends from the moment. But God does.

The disciples could have had faith that even while Jesus was asleep, God would do what was right by them and take care of them. I need that faith as well. It may seem to me like God is asleep because He isn’t calming the storm on my timetable. But God knows how to calm the storms. More importantly, God knows when to calm the storms. My job is to keep bailing water and turning to Him for help. I’m sure that He is probably giving me more help already than I even realize.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Mark 3:1-4:41.

The last few verses of this reading always provide me with great comfort. Jesus and His disciples were traveling by boat. A windstorm arose, but Jesus slept on. I can picture the seen now, waves crashing over the boat, disciples bailing water, Peter giving orders. Nothing is working.

One of the disciples saw Jesus sleeping and woke Him. “Don’t you care that we are perishing?”

We need to keep in mind that this is not the question we might think it is. They are not saying, “Teacher, why don’t you save us?” They didn’t expect that. They didn’t have that faith.

They are just shocked that death seems so near and Jesus is oblivious. He’s just sleeping. It’s as if He doesn’t care if they all die. The disciples are working like mad to save their own lives, but Jesus sleeps on as if death doesn’t matter.

However, Jesus answered their question in a way that shocked them. Not only did He care, He was the only one that could actually do something useful about it. He stopped the winds and the waves. He saved them.

For me, the take away is sometimes I wonder if God cares about me. When struggles rise. When winds and waves come crashing in to my life. I have doubts some times. Sometimes there is a lack of faith. Sometimes there is just the question of why. In any event, this story reminds me that Jesus’ caring doesn’t mean there will never be storms. It means that in the end, Jesus will quiet them and get me through them. 

Yes, He does care.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC