35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 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?” 39 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.
2020 is off to a rough start.
Like the disciples in Mark, it has felt at times like we are all in a boat, trying to get across the sea, when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm.
At first, you think you’ve got everything under control. Things aren’t perfect, but then again, when have they ever been perfect? So, you keep rowing. And rowing. And rowing.
But, you’re not getting anywhere. If anything, you feel like you’re moving backwards. Or, maybe, you start to feel like the storm is going to overwhelm you.
For many people — all around the world — the last few weeks have been filled with terror, tragedy, and questions about what comes next. It has been overwhelming. Will the waves knock us out? Or the wind blow us over?
I actually think the disciples in verse 38 are asking a good question, one that many of us have probably asked… “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Many people are asking that question right now. We’re all realizing a bitter truth: We don’t have much control.
We can’t control the storm, or the waves. For those of us who believe in Jesus, all we can do is cross the sea because He asks us to. And when things get stormy, it makes sense that we’d question why He asked us to get into the boat.
And right now, it probably feels like He fell asleep. Or, that He’s lost control.
But, He hasn’t.
I don’t have any easy answers, or quick fixes. All I can tell you is that Jesus is in the boat with us. He listens to us when we call out to Him. And He will make peace.
So, I think the best we can do is three-fold:
Pray for the world. Pray for an end to this storm. Pray for medical workers and everyone on the frontlines of battling this virus.
Listen to the authorities: Wash your hands, respect social-distancing, don’t take unnecessary risks.
Do what you can to support and love your neighbor, in a safe and responsible way.