Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he
was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and
waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling
up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. Mark 4:36–38
Throughout our lives, we can be assured that at some point we will
encounter a storm. Not just a physical storm but a spiritual one.
It may come in the form of a tragic event, a deep wound inflicted
by another, the effects of our own sin or some other painful
experience. And for many people, this will happen more than
once.
When such a “storm” is encountered in life, it may seem as if Jesus
is “asleep” and not readily available to help us through. When this
happens, the message of the Gospel above is very helpful to
prayerfully ponder.
As this Gospel passage continues, we read that the disciples, in a
panic, woke up Jesus and said, “Teacher, do you not care that we
are perishing?” Jesus got up, addressed the storm and said, “Quiet!
Be still!” and all was calm. He then said to the disciples, “Why
are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” The disciples were
left in amazement and wonder.
The key is faith. When we face a storm in life, we must have faith.
But what does that mean? It means that we must know, with a deep
certitude, that Jesus is in fact always with us. We must know, with
a deep certitude, that if we place all our trust and hope in Him,
He will never abandon us. We must know, with a deep certitude, that
every storm will ultimately pass and that peace and calm will
ensue.
Facing the storms in life with faith is transforming. And often
Jesus appears to be asleep for a reason. The reason is that He
wants us to trust. Too often we turn our eyes to the storm itself
and allow fear and anxiety to dominate our lives. But every storm
we encounter is an opportunity to trust Him on a new and deeper
level. If life were always easy and consoling then we would have
little reason to trust deeply. Therefore, every storm must be seen
as an opportunity for tremendous grace as we place all our trust in
Jesus, despite how things immediately appear.
Reflect, today, upon how deep and sustaining your own faith in
Christ truly is. Do you trust Him no matter what? Are you able to
trust Him when all seems lost, when life is difficult and when
confusion tempts you? Prepare, now, for the next such storm you may
face and resolve to use that opportunity as a moment in which your
faith is made manifest and becomes the stabilizing force of your
life.
My sleeping Lord, help me to always place all my trust in You,
no matter what the circumstances are in my life at every moment.
Strengthen my faith, especially during those times when I face
challenges and temptations. May I never doubt that You are there
with me, leading me and keeping me close to Your merciful Heart.
Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Christ Asleep during the Tempest By Eugène
Delacroix, via Wikimedia Commons
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