Safe with Jesus

In Mark 4:35-41, the disciples of Jesus got into a boat to travel across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat, and a terrible storm with violent waves began filling the boat with water. In fear for their lives, the disciples woke Jesus up, saying, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” With the words, “Hush, be still,” Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea, and they obeyed. The result was perfect calmness, as though there was not even a strong wind blowing to disturb the water. After bringing about the calm, Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

When the storm is present, and life seems terribly unpredictable and chaotic, that is when Jesus expects Christians to let their faith in Him produce confidence. Confidence that no matter what happens, even if death comes, Jesus is here and their soul is safe. It is not hard to proclaim faith in God when life is easy and peace is plentiful. When ease is replaced with hardship and peace is replaced with pain, that is when Jesus looks for your continued faith in Him.

Examples like Job show Christians God’s expectation in troubled times. When Job’s riches were destroyed and his children were killed tragically, he fell to the ground and said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). He did not blame God for his troubles, and instead expressed his continued faith that whatever life brought, God was worthy of His worship and faithfulness. Carry that kind of faith in God through good times and bad. Whatever comes, you are safe with Him.