- Carolyn Elson
When God’s in the Boat
Updated: Sep 17, 2020
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Mark 4:40
It had been a long day. Jesus and his disciples gathered in a fishing boat, set the sails, and began their way across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, tired from the day’s events, went to the stern of the boat and fell asleep. As they made their way across the lake, the winds begin to pick up. Before the disciples knew it, the winds blew fierce and waves crashed into the boat. They were going to sink.
Obviously, the disciples faced a big problem. It wasn’t just the storm they faced, but their fear and lack of trust in the one who would get them through it.
As we continue to read, it seems that fear makes the disciples doubt that Jesus even cared for them. In verse 39, they frantically tell Jesus what is happening, and then as if a storm rages in their own hearts, they ask him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus rebukes the storm, and the sea is calm. Then Jesus asks them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” The disciples didn’t answer him, perhaps amazed at what just happened; they simply had no words.
Are you facing something right now that has you scared or afraid? Sometimes the unknown can leave us in fear and unsure about the future. The one thing we can’t forget is that God is right there with you. There will never be a storm we face where God is not with us in the midst of it.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The word for uphold in Hebrew means to hold up or support. What God is saying is don’t fear, I’ve got you, you are going to get through this.
The disciples should have known this, they had God in the boat with them! Instead of focusing on fear, let’s start believing that God is more powerful than our circumstances. That is what takes fear away. Let’s not forget who is in the boat with us.
Shining the Light Brighter – Here is where you can dig deeper to help you learn more and apply God’s word to your life.
Look through the concordance in the back of your Bible and look up fear, anxiety, or worry. Look up the scripture references, and write down a few in a journal. Read these verses often and meditate on them. You may want to memorize a couple.
Jesus has told us to “Cast all your cares upon him” (1 Peter 5:7) When you are struggling being fearful or afraid of something, pray and tell God about it and ask him to help you trust Him and not be fearful.
