Mark 4:35-41 – “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”  36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”  41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”  NKJV

Which question, you ask?  The one the disciples asked or the ones Jesus asked.  Both, but specifically the one they asked in the midst of the storm.  Their response is largely the response many have when facing a crisis.  I have encountered and even exhibited the attitude, “Why me, Lord?” or “Why not me, Lord?”  I have ministered to people that voiced a variation of, “If God cared, He wouldn’t allow this!” 

In this account, there are a number of things very important to note.  The first, Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side.”  Jesus had given direction and His question in response to their question indicates they should have maintained their confidence in His instructions.  Go to the other side.  In life, God gives has given us a directive to “Go into all the world and share the Good News.”  There is no mention that it will be smooth sailing along the journey but that does not detract from the directive.  We are told that to “resist” the devil and that indicates on suggests we will have devils we need to resist.  Life is not always easy and the fact that we have been born again into Christ Jesus does not mean we will live a trouble free existence and that God will be at our beck and call in every situation.  There are some things that we must determine we will weather the storm no matter what and exercise His authority, given to us as we STAND.

Their question moved from the responsibility of TRUST to an accusation that since there was a storm and Jesus was sleeping, He had failed and was uncaring.  No, just because you have a crisis does not mean God does not care, it means you have a crisis.  It means you have the opportunity to demonstrate your confidence in Him and His Promises.  It is an opportunity for you to experience His miraculous or exercise your spiritual authority and faith.   Jesus challenged their accusation or assertion that He did not care by shifting the focus where it belonged, on their lack of TRUST or FAITH.  He challenged their demonstration of fear knowing and exposing to them that Faith and Fear cannot harmoniously dwell in the same heart and mind.  Fear has torment but Faith has peace. 

It is not necessarily the outcome that is the most important but the attitude.  I had the terrible duty to perform a funeral service for a mother and three children who died as the result of carbon monoxide affixation in a faulty vent of a mobile home.  The grandmother met me at the trailer and beat me in the chest asking, “Why, preacher? Why?”  Why is the wrong question, in my view!  Why opens the door to suggest that God failed and somehow did not care or care enough.  Why opens the door to bitterness.  There are some situations in life that why cannot address and in the lives of believers why is only valid if it motivates us to amend our lives to seek God more fully and commit ourselves more deeply.  Why, questions God’s character and motive, as the serpent did with Eve in the Garden.  No, the question is not why, but what do we do now?

Jesus is still quieting the storms when we call upon Him but His desire, more than removing storms from our paths is the condition of our hearts and our complete confidence in Him, His Word, and His Promises.  We know who we have believed and are convinced and confident that He can and will keep that which we have committed to Him eternally.

            God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus.