Transformed – teen devotion – June 23, 2024
One truth shared: Our gracious God is with us through all the storms of life.
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41
Power and Perseverance Through the Storms
Have you experienced any storms recently? Not the kind with rain, thunder, lightning, and high winds, what about the “storms” of your life? You know… those life circumstances that bring challenges, hardship and pain. Things like handling difficult people at work, struggles with teachers and grades, a personal illness, or injury or that of a loved one, a personal but contentious relationship with a parent, friend, or boyfriend/girlfriend.
On top of the pain and hardship that storms bring, have you felt as if God doesn’t care? Almost as if God is unaware of what we’re going through or that he is sleeping on the job? Does your prayer-life reflect your frustration? “Wake up, God! I need your help!”
That’s how the disciples felt. In this case their storm was an actual weather event – a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and rain. In the middle of their storm they too felt pain and challenged. And all the while their friend Jesus was, in fact, literally sleeping in the back of the boat. So they, like we would, fired off their “prayer” to Jesus. “Jesus, are you aware that there is a storm going on? Don’t you care that we might drown?”
How did Jesus respond? Mark tells us that Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and waves, and it became completely calm. Amazing!
In these verses Jesus lets us know that having feelings of fear and doubt in the midst of our storms is due to a lack of faith. While fear, doubt and struggling in faith are natural for sinful human beings, they are not what God wants. By God’s Spirit, we can respond in faith knowing from God’s promises and our past experiences that God does indeed care and he is in control.
One last thing … Jesus reminds us of his amazing and unconditional love. He forgives us for our doubt and unbelief. He shows us that what may seem like him being uncaring, or even slumbering during our storms, is actually our gracious, all-powerful God in complete control.
Remember, Jesus is with you in the storm. He will give you the faith to face and persevere.
Prayer: Dear Savior, it’s natural for me to respond to life’s storms with fear. I know you want me to respond with faith. Take away my fears when the storms come. Remind me that you have power over all creation, that you care and that you are always with me. Amen.
