" 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?”-Mark 4:37-38
The situation that Mark describes in this passage is terribly frightening. He writes that a great storm with powerful winds arose and the might waves began to permeate the frail boat. Everyone knows what happens to a boat in the ocean, lake, or river that begins to be flooded with water. No one wants to be in that situation and unfortunately, this was exactly the situation that the disciples were facing.
They were filled with great fear amid that natural phenomenon that was plaguing their boat with water. Their bewilderment towards this unprecedented situation hindered them from realizing who was with them in the boat. They could not grasp who was sleeping in the stern and above all, they could not fathom how neither the noise of the strong gale or the roaring of the waves did not seem to bother the master
How frequently do we, just like the disciples feel like giving up in from of the tumultuous circumstances that arrive in our lives? How many times do we feel terrified when facing difficult moments and become quickly discouraged and grief-stricken? How often do we feel alone and filled with fear? How many times do we believe that God does not hear us or much less care about our situation?
The appropriate question here is: “Who is in the boat with you?” Do you truly believe that Him who stated in Isaiah 43:1-2: ““Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Has made His promise void?
As long as you keep your eyes focused on the storm of problems that engulf your life, and as long as you continue to listen to the devil’s lies that whisper in your ear, you will never be able to fully gage who truly is with you. Due to the life-threatening situation, the disciples could not realize that the boat could not sink because the master of the universe was inside the boat.
Your life is in the hands of the almighty God and the work that he has decided to do in you He will accomplish and nothing will stop Him. So get up! Take heart! Your boat cannot sink. There will not be any storm that will destroy it because with you is the giver of life. With Christ on the steering wheel of our boat, we will arrive securely. Amen!
