Responding To The Storms of Life Through Faith

I am sitting and reflecting on the unexpected storm in the lives of the disciples. It’s recorded in Mark 6:46-52.  Previously, the disciples had witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding the crowd of five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, then we read the next day (in the middle of the night) the disciples found themselves in the middle of a storm.  How could this be?! They’d just experienced the greatest miracle of their lives and almost immediately encountered  a storm!  This wasn’t just any storm-they were in serious trouble.  They were experienced fishermen so they knew how to navigate the waves of the sea but this force of nature left them helpless-all of their expertise in rowing was to no avail.  They needed a miracle, quickly!

Suddenly, at 3 am they see a ghostly figure walking towards them in the water.   Now they are even more terrified! Jesus immediately calms the storm within them.  “Don’t be afraid,” he said.  “Take courage!” I am here!” (Mark 6:50)

And as soon as he stepped onto the boat the wind stopped.  We’re also told the disciples were completely amazed by this miracle Jesus performed as they had not considered the significance of the miracle of the loaves because their hearts were too hard to take it in.

There is a wealth of wisdom one can glean from just this passage alone.  

First, it’s necessary for us to go through storms in order for our faith muscles to develop.  Jesus is the one who insisted they go  onto the boat without Him (Mark 6:45).  No storm ever takes God by surprise. Jesus knew  they were going to encounter trouble but He deemed it necessary.  Where was He when He insisted they go without Him?  He went off by himself to pray (Mark 6:46). We have a savior who is ever mindful of us and always intercedes on our behalf.

Second, Jesus is always present in the darkest moment of our lives, yet our fear and inner turmoil can cause us to reject Him rather than welcome His presence.  We have to allow Him in on the storms of our lives.  

Third, we must be ever mindful of His past deliverances with the assurance He’ll come through as He always has in times past. We must not allow our hearts to become so hardened by the perils of life that we fail to grasp His faithfulness for He will not fail or quit on us.

Leaning Wholly on Him,

Acacia