Daily Strength - When Afraid

Daily Strength – When Afraid

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ 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?’

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’ (NIV)

It was evening time and things always seem worse at night. It was getting cold, it was dark and the disciples were in their boat on the Sea of Galilee. They weren’t alone. There were other boats there too and Jesus was in their boat with them, but what happened next made them feel alone, very alone. A furious squall came up, out of nowhere, and within minutes the disciples (many of them seasoned fishermen) felt that they were about to die. In the middle of it all Jesus is sleeping. In panic they cry out ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

It’s a big question. It’s one thing to believe that Jesus is powerful but does He care? That’s the big question in this short story. At that moment Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the waves and a quietness, a stillness, a calm broke over the whole scene. Faith believes … yes that Jesus is powerful and mighty to save … but even in the dark of night faith believes that Jesus cares. He really cares.

Prayer: Lord Jesus You are mighty and powerful. Thank you for this ancient account that today reminds me that you care. At the beginning of this new day I give myself anew to You. Thank You that You are with me and that You care, all the time, and in every situation. Amen.