Weekend, February 19, 2022
The Thing about Storms
“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’” (Mark 4:38 NLT).
Storms happened all the time on the Sea of Galilee, but apparently this was a pretty bad one because even the seasoned sailors were panicking.
Jesus and the disciples had set out in their boat for the other side, but a severe storm arose. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat. I find it interesting that the storm didn’t awaken Jesus from his sleep, but the cry of the disciples did.
They shouted, “Don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (Mark 4:38 NLT). In this sense, Jesus really was asleep, but in a broader sense, God never sleeps. Remember, Jesus was fully God and fully man. So he was exhausted and drained from the activities of the day.
But when the disciples woke Him, Jesus “rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm” (verse 30 NLT).
Does it ever seem as though God is asleep? Psalm 121:4 says, “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (NKJV). God is always aware of what we’re going through.
Maybe you’re going through a storm today. By a “storm” I mean a hardship, a difficulty, or perhaps even a tragedy. And like the disciples, you’re saying, “Lord, don’t You care? Are You even paying attention?”
Storms come into our lives as Christians. Sometimes God himself will send the storm, as in the case of Jonah, who was disobedient to God and effectively reaped the consequences of his actions.
At other times, the Devil will send a storm, and God will allow it. Sometimes we call on the Lord and He stops the storm. At other times He is with us and sustains us through the storm. But know this: Storms don’t last forever. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Copyright © 2022 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of Marvel at the Moon by Levi Lusko
In this fantastic 90-day devotional, author and pastor Levi Lusko uses illuminating stories, biblical teaching, and eye-opening surprises about outer space to show kids that they’re never alone because God is always with them. A copy of this beautifully illustrated book will be mailed to you when you make a gift of support to Harvest Ministries this month.