“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?
Mark 4:38
Love is a very interesting thing. As much as we think there is a format to it, in reality, love has no formula. This doesn’t mean that there are no indicators of love, it just means that it varies from person to person. While one person must be pampered as an art of love, another must be firmly rebuked as an art of love. If action is the basis of assessing a show of love then we’re going to run into problems very quickly.
To understand this further, let’s examine this event in Mark 4. One evening, Jesus and His disciples embarked on a boat journey across the Sea of Galilee. Suddenly, a violent storm erupted, causing waves to crash into the boat. Fear and panic seized the disciples as the boat began to fill with water, and the elements raged against them. In the midst of this chaos, Jesus, remarkably, lay asleep on a cushion.
The contrast between the disciples’ desperate struggle for survival and Jesus’ seemingly serene slumber triggers a question born out of fear and doubt: “Don’t You Care if We Drown?” The disciples, battling the tempest, begin to question the very essence of Jesus’ love. In their moment of crisis, the perceived silence of Jesus becomes a catalyst for doubt.
Before you think that these guys are so faithless and shallow, the truth is if you were in their shoes, you would most likely feel the same way. There are moments when we find ourselves in the midst of chaos, desperately seeking God’s intervention, only to be met with silence. In those moments, doubt can creep in, and we may question whether God truly cares for us. The truth however is that even when it seems as though He is silent or distant, His love remains constant. The storms we face are opportunities to anchor our faith in the assurance that Jesus has our best interest at heart, working in ways beyond our understanding and timeline.
In the midst of life’s storms, Jesus’ love is unwavering, though His methods may challenge our expectations. As we navigate the tempests of life, let us hold fast to the truth that Christ’s love is eternal and all-encompassing. Trusting in His love, even in moments of apparent silence, becomes the anchor that carries us through the storms, ultimately leading us to a place of calm and reassurance.
Jesus cares for you!
PRAYER
Dear Lord, your love is eternal; it is endless. You loved before I was ever capable of loving you and I know you will never stop. Though sometimes I may not understand what you are doing and my experiences might make it look like you don’t care, help me to always remember that your love for me is unchanging
