Storms: What to Do When You’re in One

Inside: how to hold on during a storm

Have you ever ridden a boat? Not like on the lake or a riverboat. But, a boat out in the middle of the ocean and you can’t see land?

So, I have. I was with a group of my classmates on a research trip.

Lemme set the scene: The sun is shining bright. The swells aren’t terribly bad and the breeze is just right. And just about every single one of us, including me, couldn’t keep our eyes open because the boat was rocking us to sleep.

Really, it’s a miracle none of us fell out of it…

So, when I read about the story of Jesus and the disciples in Mark 4, I can understand how Jesus feel asleep so quickly.

And, then I think, “Uh, Cassie, it was also storming…” And then I’m all, “Nevermind… Not sure I could’ve slept through that.” (And if you know me, you know I sleep through just about everything…)

The Storm in Mark 4

I was reading the through a devotion that mentioned the storm in Mark 4 the other day and something struck me as odd.

Let’s take a quick look at those scriptures, ok?

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, and that it was not full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said until them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Mark 4:36-40

If you’re a bible reader, you know how this in Mark goes. But, for good measure, I’ll give you a quick summary.

So, the disciples are in the boat with Jesus, who is snoozing, and there’s a big storm. After panicking, they disciples finally wake Jesus up and go, “What are you doing? We’re allllll gonna diiiiiiiiieeeeee!”

And then, Jesus probably yawns and stretches a little, asks them, “Why are you scared? Why do you not have any faith?” And then he says. “Peace, be still.“

And, baaaam. The storm is gone.

The Little Ships

Kind of an amazing account, right?

I mean, listen, even the wind and the sea obey Him.

The wind. And. The sea.

And, if He can calm the wind and the sea, you know He can do that for the storms in your own life.

Listen, dear reader. I’m not writing this post to talk about an account that we’re already familiar with. (Even though the message there is a good one: Have faith and trust the Lord.)

Did you see Mark 4:36?

Let’s look at it again, alright?

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. Mark 4:36

And there were also with him other little ships.

In that storm. In smaller boats. And Jesus wasn’t in their boat.

He was near, but remember: Jesus was in the bigger boat with the disciples.

If you're in that kind of storm, the kind where you can't see Jesus or the other side, keep holding on and keep praying. Click To Tweet

Let’s talk about those people in the small boats for a second. First, those people had to have possessed a great amount of determination to get in a smaller boat and follow Jesus wherever He was going. Nothing was going to stop them from following after Him.

But, then that storm hit. And I’m sure, those boats probably had a hard time seeing the boat Jesus was on. Sure, they were still trying to follow Him, but suddenly there was a giant storm (literally) in their path and it likely felt like Jesus wasn’t close by at all.

When the Storm Hits Us

How many of us have been there?

Me. I’m raising my hand behind my computer screen. I bet you’ve been there, too.

We’ve determined in our hearts that we’re going to follow the Lord, no matter what. We set out on our way following after Him and things are good for a while. The sun is shining. We have our eyes set in the right direction. And nothing is going to stop us.

Until, something does stop us. That something is so big, it knocks us off our feet and it seems to block our view of the Lord. We can’t seem to see Him or feel Him. And we don’t know which way to turn.

And then, when we try to cry out to Him, it seems like our cries are drowned out by the noise of “the thing.“

But, friend, lemme tell you. When Jesus spoke peace to the storm (you know, the ones the disciples were so incredibly worried about even though JESUS WAS ON THE BOAT WITH THEM), He calmed the storm for the people in the smaller boats, too.

Can you just imagine what those people on the smaller boats said when they reached the shore?

“He calmed the storm for us, too! We couldn’t see him because it was raining sideways. Raining cats and dogs! But, then all of a sudden, the storm was calmed and there He was!”

Keep Holding On

Friend, if you’re in that kind of storm, the kind where you can’t see Jesus or the other side, keep holding on and keep praying.

It might not feel like it (been there, friend), but Jesus is near.

He sees you. He hears you. And He knows exactly where you are.

Hang on.

Because when Jesus speaks peace and your storm is over, you’ll be glad you continued following after Him.

Shine bright!

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