In the Middle of the Storm, Help My Unbelief

Mark 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” 

I have heard this story about a gazillion times (I have literally counted), but in a rare moment when I was up this morning before my daughter was I was reading it and saw it in a new light.  If you aren't familiar with the story, it is probably one of the most famous Jesus stories, right next to turning water into wine, walking on water and turning 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread into enough food to feed 5,000 (let's not forget rising from the dead, that was pretty awesome).   


If you have read Mark before you know that Jesus had already done some pretty amazing things and the disciples had witnessed all of them.  However, when a powerful storm hits while they are in the middle of the water, they were scared (who wouldn't be, right?).  Instead of politely asking Jesus to help out, they accuse Jesus of not caring if they drown.  Jesus stands up and tells the wind and waves, "Shut it down!" and they immediately listened.  

 If you are anything like me you probably tend to judge the disciples for their hasty accusations.  However, time and time again we do the exact same thing.  We have seen God work in our lives and take care of us when all hope seems lost.  But when the next big squall comes we shake our fists to the sky, thinking He is in some celestial, lofty place, and shout, "Don't you care if we drown?!"  Jesus again calms our storm (granted not always the way we envision) and we realize he has been in the boat with us the entire time.  He never left us alone.  He then asks us, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  

That is when we turn and find ourselves humbled with the man whose son had been cured from evil spirits by Jesus (Mark 9:24), “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

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