When the Storm Is Louder Than His Voice

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 NIV).

These verses are some of the most well-known in the Bible, loved by many, loved by me. They demonstrate that the storm the apostles were in, the storms I am in, are louder than His voice, what He has already said will come to pass.

Jesus told them, “Let’s go over to the other side,” so they should have known everything was going to be alright. In the midst of the fear, they forgot what He had just said. They forgot His voice.

It's so easy for me to look at them and feel superior. Like, hello, guys, don't you realize who He is already?

But, there’s been times in my life when I have forgotten the sound of His voice, more often than I would like to admit. He has told me that He is going to do something for me, but when I become anxious, I forget. Like, for instance, when I am on an airplane and horrible turbulence happens, I don’t remember that He said He still has much for me to do in this life and that the plane is not going down today. Just like the apostles, I forget his voice when my terror takes over.

I hate to confess that the first thing I often do is panic, just like they did that day in the boat. But I don’t want to; my desire is to listen to Him. Does that count? I think so.

Honestly, I can relate to the apostles in this passage in every way. I have also said, “God, are you there? Do you care about the lost job or the lost relationship or my wayward children or my marriage woes or, (fill in the blank). Sometimes it seems like He doesn’t, like He is asleep in the boat and asleep at the wheel. He doesn’t care that I am going to drown, I lament.

Notice that Jesus didn’t speak to them. He spoke to the storm. Wow! I have a God who speaks to storms. Jesus knew who to go to, who to rebuke, so he tells the storm to stop, then he addresses his boys, asking them two questions he knows the answers to.

I cannot tell you how many times I have prayed, reminding God, “Even the wind and the waves obey You.” Countless times. Especially when I am on an airplane, or on a mountain road, or while driving in blinding rain or snow. Or when I've suffered loss or am walking alongside someone else who has.

After I've prayed, do I believe it? Do I gain peace? Do I really believe we are going to make it to the other side? Not always.

Just like Peter, when I take my eyes off of Jesus, I sink. I lose my footing. I panic.

I don’t want to respond like this anymore. I would like to be a little less human. Can you relate?

The Master of the waves, the Captain of the seas, is the One who knows my every thought before I think it. He knows the number of hairs on my head. The innermost cares of my heart. The same wind-ending, wave-calming God is still working and moving and willing to take me to the other side if I would allow.

Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash