Jesus Slept

One of my Dad’s favorite songs was Louis Armstrong’s, What A Wonderful World.  It is a beautiful and uplifting score.  

As humans, we live in the same world - yet in our own worlds.  Sometimes our wonderful world can become unpleasant.  It can know a season of storms.  Just as in an actual thunderstorm that we didn’t have the ability to conjure up - a life storm can stir up in our normally wonderful world.  

During such storms, we bring to it all we can.  We do our best to find the solution.  We work hard and wise in all we do to get resolution.  Nonetheless, the storm continues.  With all of our efforts - we also seek God. Prayer is induced.  Trust is accelerated.  Faith is increased.  Yet, the storm only intensifies.  

Does it ever seem to you that the Lord is quietest when the life storm has lasted the longest?   Do you wonder in those lengthened storms of life why it appears that God is silent?   Have you experienced the longevity of a storm in your world and thought the stillness of your Savior was just way too much?

If you have endured such torrents and asked yourself these same questions - you’re in good company.  There are humans in Matthew, Chapter Twenty-three that could once relate.  

Matthew 8:23-25

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 

24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 

25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

The disciples and Jesus found themselves in the middle of a fierce storm.  His disciples had joined Jesus in the boat and with no fault of their own they were being thrown, tossed, and tumbled over the raging waters of their world.  In the midst of it all - Jesus was soundless.  There He was physically in the boat with those He called disciples - friends.  Even still, they were overwhelmed by the torrential rains …and the silence of their Lord. 

As the winds heaved and the waves crashed, Jesus was somewhere quiet on the boat.  Panic smothered the otherwise measured friends of the Lord.  Fear choked each of them as they scurried to find The One they trusted, believed, and confided.  

In their terror, they stumbled upon the Savior of the world.  While the boat rocked  side to side in the vigorous gale, Jesus slept.  The disciples discovered Him …SLEEPING.  Jesus had been what seemed to be absent in their agonizing water battle.  

Their reaction was to wake Him and excitedly bellow -

 “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

(Verse 25)

In that moment, the Lord responded:

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus stilled the troubled seas and settled the despairing hearts of the disciples in their trepidation state.  Once He answered - they were AMAZED at Jesus that even the winds and waves obey Him. 

Friend, if you have or are experiencing such a frightening situation and Jesus seems all too quiet - just as He was right there in the boat with the overwhelmed disciples in the midst of their life storm - HE IS WITH YOU!  It might appear that He isn’t close by or doing anything to help, but He is with you even if it is quiet.  Just as the disciples did, seek Him and call upon His Name!  Take a step in faith and then STAND AMAZED. Jesus will calm the troubled seas, winds, storms in your life.  He will answer in a way that is beyond what you anticipated!

Not only does this story tell of His trustworthiness - but I can also testify about the winds in my world when I asked Jesus why He was so silent!  Suddenly, when I thought the breaking point was going to overtake me - HE SHOWED UP.  I can share with you about the faithfulness of my God.   And, dear Reader, I stood amazed!

The Lord doesn’t always do things the way we want or the way others think it should look in our lives.  BUT GOD …He knows the plans and the timing He has for each of us.  

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When the storms come, the winds blow, the waves rage and Jesus seems the quietest - do all you can to reach your hand to The Master of the Wind.  He will let you know He is with you. He will speak to the storm.  He will calm the wind …and you.  When He has, you will see you have witnessed the Hand of God in your life.  And, you will never be the same. 

I encourage you to spend time in praise and worship.  Find songs about standing amazed, the faithfulness of God and He stills the troubled seas.  Jesus will meet you where you are.  In His presence, you will once again sing - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD. 

If I can pray with you, please submit a prayer request by going to my Prayer Requests page.  I assure you, I will pray.

Oh, my precious friend - Jesus loves you so!