“I get it! OK? Fine! I’m listening!” That’s what I want to shout. I obviously haven’t been listening properly. The repetition is getting frustrating and I’m barring my teeth in a “grin and bear” grimace. God, what? What are you saying? What have I missed? What have I not heard? What am I ignoring?
In the last little while I have encountered the story in Mark 4:35-41 four times – Jesus is asleep in a boat, then wakes up and calms the storm. Surely! I’ve heard it all by now? Our youth pastor preached it last Wednesday night at our student church, just yesterday a good (albeit virtual) blogging friend of mine took the passage apart in a short video, this morning I sat down to work and the words of that Casting Crowns song came to mind: “I’ll praise You in the storm.” Before those two weeks, I penned it in a poem I performed.
Each time I’ve bumped into it, there have been slight perspective changes and new light shed on pieces of revelation that I haven’t been able to put into words before. Surely though, I’ve heard it all? I’ll go ahead and say it’s a timely word for the season – lots happening – but I don’t ever want it to become mundane. In the same vein, how do I take phrases that sound amazing and make them heart changes? How do I mold great “aha” moments into actions of faith?
I’m aware that this portion of Scripture has lifestyle implications as much as the storm they were sailing in was very literal. In part, here are some of the stirrings from this passage that have been highlighted:
Peace is not absence of a storm, it is calm amidst the storm. There was a storm, Jesus was there amidst the storm.
Jesus is connected to the One who has power over the storms. His expectation is that if He has peace, we should have it too if we are connected to Him. This requires humility, yes, but there is no way we can quell the squalls ourselves.
We are often consumed by the storm right in front of us instead of trusting Jesus that is with us. Jesus, when speaking to His disciples, connects their fear with their lack of faith. We are promised a peace that is not superficial – it’s not just a hole filler – it goes beyond our understanding. Peace requires faith, peace is a direct result of faith. No faith, no peace?
Peace guards our thoughts and emotions. Around a palace, the function of a guard is to keep out what needs to stay out and keep in what needs to stay in. Peace does the same thing with our hearts.
Sometimes Jesus calms the storms in our lives, sometimes He just rides them with us. Whichever is the case, He is there. We need to trust Him.
The image of Jesus sleeping in the boat, is a beautiful image of God not being worried. Straight up: God can’t be stressed out. Go to Jesus, don’t just “leave him to sleep.”
What have I missed? What stirs your heart when looking at this? What have you heard.
I’m listening.
You have my word 
I love what it says at the end of the narrative of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4… “And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mar 4:41
They started out being afraid of the storm and the possible consequences, but they ended with a new revelation of Jesus… and they feared Him… His perfect love for them cast out all fear of the storm… and turned to worship.
The storm expands our relationship with Jesus. Wow. That just blew my mind. I totally didn’t pay attention to that at all. Maybe the storm isn’t the main thing, but the outcome of our trust in the storm that’s important.
When the storm winds clear we come out with a deeper revelation of who Jesus is and His power to sustain, calm, save… 🙂
good, albeit virtual… i’ll take that and a cup of coffeine! great post lady!