On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, [the disciples] took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 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?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

Mark 4:35-41

The disciples blamed Jesus for the waves and storm. The disciples accused Jesus of not caring when they were freaking out. The disciples also knew that Jesus could do something about their fears.

Cursing the storm and waves can feel futile. It would make sense to blame who and what brought them on this boat, the person who put them in this situation. Their fears projected into blame and anxiety.

Jesus wasn’t upset with the disciples’ fears. If your boat is sinking in the water, you should feel afraid. It’s their reaction to the fear that reveals their lack of faith. They questioned God’s character and projected their future. When our circumstances bring up fear, does it shake our view of God? That God is intentionally putting us in harm’s way? When we are afraid do conjure up a reality that is not true?

The beauty of Christ is that even in our fears and in our lack of faith, he still shows his power. He still rescues us. He still reveals his goodness. He isn’t a tit for tat kind of God. He meets our lack with wholeness.

Prayer: God help me to voice my fears without being consumed by them. Help me to be afraid without blame and resentment. Help me to be afraid in the moment without coloring my whole future as hopeless. Help me to see you are in the boat with me.

How are you processing fear right now?