Is Jesus in Your Boat? – Robert Schaetzle
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 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?” Mark 4:37-38 ESV
I’ve been on the Sea of Galilee, but on a warm calm sunny day, unlike what the apostles were experiencing in the above passage. The experience I had was never with wind gales and groundswells. Water was not sinking our boat. However, I have been in open ocean waters with heavy ground swells, and I’ve often wondered… how could our Lord find such calm to be able to sleep in the midst of such bad weather?
Our life experiences develop in us a need to try and control our circumstances. However, when the storms of life come along, we don’t have the capacity in our own strength to make things go away.
The scene for the apostles and for us is a lesson that God gives for us to learn from. As we live out adverse experiences, Jesus truly is in our boat. The power of His presence in us and for us… is always there! Jesus is never away or asleep, but is there for us to recognize… ‘Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.’
Father, when storm waves appear, I must be confident to recognize that no matter how high those waves, the preeminence of your presence is far greater than the highest wave of adversity before me. You never take naps or vacations, but your Holy Spirit is abiding, always with grace and wisdom to intercede for me. Thank you for being in my boat. AMEN.
Robert lives in Sunnyvale, CA serving in a Sharing and Caring Ministry. Contact