Many of us have had the experience of either driving or being a passenger in a vehicle when without warning, the skies open up and we’re in the middle of a downpour or blinding snow squall. The visibility decreases dramatically, road conditions are unstable, and we’re not sure if we should pull off the road. It can be very alarming, not unlike what the disciples experienced in the boat with Jesus.
This story is not only about Jesus’ power over the wind and sea; it is about Jesus’ presence during the storm. Trust is a quality that is built over time and through experience. When we are feeling overwhelmed by upsetting circumstances, it is easy to think God has broken trust with us. When a storm is swirling about us, it is easy to lose our sense of direction and become confused as to what the next step ought to be. The practices of prayer, reading, and quiet time can get lost in the confusion, and when we seemingly lose that connection with God, maintaining trust becomes even harder.
A powerful aspect of the Jewish Passover celebration, which we experience most fully during the Easter Vigil, is the retelling of the stories of God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people. By recalling what God has done for us, we remember God’s unwavering presence in our lives and reinforce the sometimes thin thread of trust when rough seas buffet us. We are reminded that even during the most distressing times, we are never alone. And after the storms have passed, we may find we have the grace to answer this most profound question, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4:41).
Have I ever felt that Jesus was “asleep in the boat” and what did I do?
Adapted from PrayerTime: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels, available at the RENEW International store