Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

 

Sleeping Through the Tempest

 

The Sea of Galilee was no stranger to storms. The disciples, seasoned fishermen, had faced rough waters before, but this was different. The wind howled, waves crashed, and their boat began to take on water. Panic set in.

 

Yet in the stern of the boat, Jesus slept—undisturbed, unshaken, resting.

 

Fear gripped the disciples. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). They had seen Him heal the sick and cast out demons, but this storm felt different. It was personal. It threatened their very lives.

 

Jesus awoke, stood amidst the chaos, and with divine authority, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Instantly, the storm obeyed, and a great calm settled over the waters.

 

Then came His question—not to the storm, but to His disciples: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

 

Resting in the Sovereign King

 

This moment was not just about stopping a storm; it was about revealing who Jesus is. The One who sleeps through the raging sea is the same One who commands it with a word. He is the Lord of all creation, the sovereign King who upholds the universe by the word of His power (Colossians 1:17).

 

The disciples had feared the storm, but now they feared something greater: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). The right kind of fear—the awe-filled recognition of Christ’s authority—brings true peace.

 

Faith That Rests

 

We are quick to panic in life’s storms, to assume that silence means absence, that delay means indifference. But Jesus was always in the boat. The storm never threatened Him. His rest was not ignorance—it was confidence.

 

The lesson was not just about power over nature but about trust in the One who never loses control. Faith does not always calm the storm, but it calms the heart in the storm.

 

Learning to Rest in Him

1. Rest in His Presence – Jesus was in the boat all along. No storm removes Him from your side.

2. Rest in His Power – He speaks, and the wind and waves obey. So will every trial in its appointed time.

3. Rest in His Timing – He does not rush, nor does He delay. His silence is never neglect—it is an invitation to trust.

 

Closing Prayer

 

Lord, teach me to rest when the storm rages. Help me trust that You are never absent, never unaware. Strengthen my faith to know that Your timing is perfect, Your power is limitless, and Your peace is mine to receive. Let me rest in You tonight, knowing that no wave rises apart from Your will. In Your name, Amen.

 

Evening Reflection

 

What storm are you holding onto? Lay it at His feet, and rest. He is in the boat. He always has been.