Jesus Sleeps in A Storm

The only occasion we see Jesus asleep was when He was on a tossing ship in the midst of a wild storm! The idea to cross the lake had not been the disciples' idea. Jesus had told them, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."

So they got into a boat and started out.  Jesus lay down with His head on a cushion and while he was napping, "a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water."

The account in Luke 8 declares, "They were in great danger." 

"Frantically they woke him up shouting, 'Teacher, don't you even care that we are going to drown?'" (Mk. 4:37, 38).

Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the water, "Quiet down!" Then He asked them two questions: "Why are you so afraid?" and "Do you still not have faith in me?"

Despite the fact that "they were in great danger," Jesus was asking, "Why are you afraid?" His message was "If You have faith, you will be unafraid even when it appears all is not well." After all, Jesus had said, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake" (Lk. 8:22). His Word would be accomplished. What Jesus asks us to do can be done.

Jesus is our pattern of how to respond to our storms. Jesus slept. He knew very well that the storm could not do anything against His will, and so He rested. 

So we, too, should refuse to recognize difficulties as something to be feared. And we must never let it destroy our faith that God cares and is in control. Even when we think He is asleep, He's working out His will and using the storm to advance His purposes and our good.

Dear Jesus, help me to rest in You and to wait patiently for You to rebuke the storm and bring peace.

"They asked one 'Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him'" (Luke 8:25).

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