“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a small boat. A very bad storm rose up and water was coming over the sides of the boat. Jesus, however, was asleep on a pillow. His disciples panicked and woke Him saying, “Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to drown!” (Mark 4:38). Jesus stood up in the boat and gave the command, “Quiet! Be still!” and the wind stopped and the water calmed (Mark 4:39). He then spoke the words of our verse for today.

When the storms of life strike, how do you react?

Perhaps, like the disciples, your first reaction is one of fear and panic. After all, storms can be scary and threatening. It is certainly understandable that one would respond to them the way the disciples did. Jesus, however, did not see it that way. The questions He put to His disciples come across as a kind of rebuke. In His view, they shouldn’t have been afraid. They should have had more faith. They should have risen above the situation with their faith.

Jesus’ reaction to the storm was the exact opposite of the disciples. He was so calm that He could sleep through it. When He was awakened, He still didn’t panic. He was peaceful and calm. He was able to rise above the situation and give the command to the wind and waves. Jesus was not afraid. Jesus had faith. Jesus had the presence of mind to do what was required.

The difference between Jesus and His disciples was that Jesus didn’t let the storm get to Him and the disciples did. Jesus didn’t let the storm get to Him, because He had a peaceful and calm heart full of faith. The storm did not change Him; rather, it brought out the faith that was within Him.

The disciples, in contrast, were as full of turmoil as the sea around them. They couldn’t calm the storm. Instead of bringing out their faith, the storm brought out fear and panic.

When the storms of life strike, we have a choice. We can let them get the better of us, or we can rise above them with faith in the One who ordained the storm for us.

By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International