Does Jesus Care?

Have you ever asked God, “Do You not care about what is happening to me?” Perhaps it was a loss of a job that prompted the question. Or a loss of a loved one, a lengthy illness or a friend falling away from the Lord. Maybe it was multiple issues, all at the same time. Let’s face it: We all get discouraged.

In the gospel of Mark, Mark reveals to us rather quickly who Jesus is. Just in the first four chapters, Jesus casts out demons, heals the sick and teaches by using parables. At the end of chapter 4, we see another amazing picture of Jesus. As the disciples and He were in a boat, a great windstorm arose and the life of every person in the boat was in danger. But what was Jesus doing? He’s sleeping (v. 38a). The disciples wake Him up and question Him: “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (v. 38b). Jesus stands up and rebukes the wind, and calmness fills the sky and water. Can you imagine the looks on the faces of the disciples?

Here are 5 takeaways:

Storms happen to committed disciples: Everyone will have storms (Matt. 7:24-27). The question is, On what is your foundation built? Paul explains that entrance into the Kingdom comes through much persecution and tribulations (Acts 14:22). We need to face life with our eyes wide open. We will all face storms.

Storms happen in order to drive us to Jesus: Without the storm, Jesus would have slept in the stern peacefully, and the disciples would have traveled across the sea on their own. But the storm drove away their self-sufficiency, and it drove them to Jesus. They needed Jesus.

Jesus cares, but acts in His own time: Was Jesus sleeping because He was unconcerned? Certainly not. It was greater for the faith of the disciples to let the storm occur, then save them. Jesus did care, but He acted in His own way for the disciples’ good.

Jesus can calm the storm, but true peace is having faith throughout the storm: No matter how big they seem to us, they are small to Him. True peace wasn’t after Jesus calmed the wind and waves. It was when the wind and waves were fierce, and He was sound asleep. True peace doesn’t mean having a perfectly calm life. It means enduring the storms in the security of our relationship with God.

Allow storms to strengthen your faith, not cripple it: Though the disciples were afraid, this storm increased their faith in Jesus. Look at your storms as an opportunity to grow in your peace with God (James 1:2-3).