Don't You Care? Life's Storms

Don’t You Care? Mark 4:35-41 (NKJ) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

There are times in your marriage when a crisis appears that “throws us for a loop”. Remember the last time something happened out of nowhere, when all you could do was cry out to God and say, “Don’t You care?” Funny how we ask that kind of question, yet we often already know the answer… Let’s look at the passage from Mark 4 above, and see what it says to us in times of trail. vs.36 They (his disciples) left the multitude and took Him along in the boat. At least they knew enough to follow His directions and relocate to the other side of the lake. Often times we are facing problems at home with our spouse. Your best friend isn’t there, your Mom isn’t there, and your church family isn’t there. You’re by yourselves. Satan loves to play on our feelings of fear and hopelessness, because he uses them to isolate and control us. Your spouse will draw upon their own set of “crisis management skills”, but as an unbeliever, they will fall short. However, as a believer, you have “taken Him” with you (Joshua 1:5). God is always there as you make your way through your circumstances. vs.37 When a great storm “arises”, you can bet the boat you are in will feel like it’s sinking. The waves of anger, uncertainty, and anxiousness will beat against its hull. The water of despair will begin seeping in. Your hope will feel like it has “holes” in it. Whatever you do, don’t sabotage your own rescue by trying to “fix it by yourself”. Just remember, Jesus is in that boat with you and He cares. vs.38 He (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. Jesus had real needs. He was tired and needed rest. However, as God, we know there is no

need for such, as Psalm 121:4 declares, “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” The disciples awoke Him, pleading with Him to do something. Aren’t we just like them, demanding that God “hear us” while we yell, “Do You not care that we are perishing?” Perhaps they remembered the writing of the sons of Korah in Psalm 44:23, “Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.” vs.39 Jesus stood and rebuked the wind, and calmed the sea. In our lives He rebukes our wind of “what if’s” and calms our sea of panic. If we are to display Christ’s attributes, and ride the undercurrents of peace, we must stay anchored to our Hope, and let Him take control of the situation. Your spouse is observing your reaction to the crisis, and you must let Jesus shine through. vs.40 When Jesus spoke to them, it was with a gentle rebuke. How often does He do that with us? Your spirit is quickened and you perceive His loving assurance and grace. These are teachable moments which we must embrace eagerly. vs.41 The disciples were in awe of what they had just witnessed. The question they asked one another was, “Who can this be…?” Indeed, that is the question we must ask ourselves, for in its answer, we find the One who has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

So next time you face that insurmountable problem, or unexpected disaster looming, just look “up” and say, “Lord, I know You care … please help me!”

This hymn by J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918) talks about Jesus being our friend and protector. Stanzas 3 and 4 below speaks volume: Jesus! what a Help in sorrow! While the billows o’er me roll, Even when my heart is breaking, He, my Comfort, helps my soul. Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper! While the tempest still is high, Storms about me, night o’ertakes me, He, my Pilot, hears my cry.