Seeing Him In The Storm

Uplook – October 2020 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Seeing Him In The Storm

“... About the fourth watch of the night He [Jesus] comes to them [the disciples] walking on the sea.” —Mark 6:48 JND

Some of the disciples were experienced fishermen. They had encountered many storms on this inland sea when they tried to catch fish to make a living. This is a picture of our life on earth and the storms that come. What a dilemma the followers of Jesus were found in! The Lord had instructed them to cross over to the other side while He departed to a mountain to pray. Now alone, without their Master in the boat, they rowed all night. The wind and waves were against them and the One who had performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000 was absent (vv.31-47).

In Mark 4:37 we read that they were on the same lake in possibly a more severe storm. That time the water was washing into the boat, and it was about to sink. However, the Lord was with them then, sleeping in the ship. The disciples woke Him up, and He rebuked the wind and told the sea to be calm. In spite of their unbelief, our Savior took care of the situation.

In the incident found in Mark 6 we do not read of water in the boat. Often we dread the waves and wind that are contrary to us, and in self-pity we think that we are about to perish. But then, we hear His lovely voice, “Be of good courage: it is I; be not afraid” (v.50). Have you ever recognized Him when the rowing of life was hard? It is His desire to reveal Himself to you that you might know Him better. In the darkness of the night, at the fourth watch, He wants to encourage you. It is the Lord who always prays for us, and the apostle Paul writes to the believers in Thessalonica that the Lord Himself will come (1 Th. 4:16). Many years ago, Job in all his difficulties could say, “Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold” (Job 19:27). We, even in our storms, can see Him with the eye of faith (Heb. 2:9).

By Klaas Rot