Goodness in the ordinary

If Jesus is in the boat, you cannot sink. 

This is the kind of trust in God I’m convinced He wants us to have. 

The synoptic Gospels tell the story of Jesus sleeping in a boat with His disciples during a raging storm at sea. 

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

No one could blame the disciples for fearing for their lives. When the waves are crashing in, fear is a natural response for all of us. While it may be natural, God calls us to something greater than fear. He calls us to trust Him even when we are afraid.

How many times could Jesus ask you and me the same questions: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 

Sometimes, we tend to believe in things we see and feel over things we know in our hearts. We see the storm brewing ahead, yet we know Jesus is with us for all eternity. So, why don’t we respond in faith? Wholly trusting in Him in these moments is putting our faith in action.  

Psalm 46 starts with a wonderful declaration that reminds us we have no logical reason to fear anything because God’s presence is a greater reason to trust. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ​Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”

Psalm 46:1-3

A nice lesson in reading comprehension is asking, ‘what’s the ‘therefore’ there for?’ It’s generally something in the text that came before it. In this case, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This is the truth the Psalmist wants readers and listeners to grasp.

Therefore we will not fear…

• Catastrophe and disaster when it surrounds us
• Waves that crash against the boat
• Doctor’s appointments that could guarantee a new diagnosis
• Giant mountains when they appear before us and seem impossible to scale
• A world around us in constant confusion and disagreement
• Wars that seem pointless or neverending
• Family relationships that seem beyond repair
• Unknowns for a future economy
• Whatever storms we personally face

…because God is ever present, and so near and that is more reason to trust than to fear. It’s Him alone Who is our help in trouble, and He’s always there. 

So if Jesus is in the boat, you cannot sink. Not because the storm will always end the way you hope, or when you hope, but because nothing can separate you from His presence, care, love, and eternal promises. The One in the boat is not merely a teacher or a moral example, but the Lord of all creation. Even the wind and sea obey Him. The storm can never ultimately destroy us. 

Reflection questions:

• What “storm” are you currently facing that tempts you toward fear rather than faith?
• When difficult circumstances arise, what is your first response: panic, planning, prayer, or trust? Why?
• How does remembering God’s presence change the way you view your current challenges?

Further reading: Psalm 46, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 14:22-33, Psalm 56:3-4, John 14:27, Romans 8:31-39

All scripture references are from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.

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