“But He was in the hind part of the boat, asleep on a pillow; and they awoke Him and said unto Him, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”(Mark 4:21)
Only very few times do we remember that God is ever closer to us than we ever imagine. To the natural man, God’s occasional silence could be understood to be an uncaring disposition towards His children.
The storm that came upon the disciples at sea was to be a test of God’s affectionate and protective love over them, and once more prove God’s almighty power, even over nature, as it is over anything that confronts His children.
Christ’s frightened disciples roared in fear “carest thou not that we perish”? It was an interrogative question posed at Jesus, borne out of rage and deep-seated fear. They were sitting right in the eye of the storm.
Not once, but on many occasions when Gods children were confronted with a threatening, near-death experience, which called God’s mercy, love and graceful intervention into prompt action.
Recall the timely sweep of God’s power across the red sea, when it was impossible for the children of Israel to advance through their journey.
It was a case of between the devil and deep blue sea. Pharaoh’s army were marching towards them, and they had no arms nor might to withstand the best and mightiest army of its day.
God simply told Moses: “Stand still and see the salvation of the lord” (Exodus 14:13)
In a fairy-tale-like manner, God demonstrated His awesome power that swallowed the army of the Egyptians. Victory once more for God’s people.
Like it was for the three Hebrew children when they were thrown into the furnace of fire, and Daniel when shoved into the lions pit, each of these experiences put God’s love to the test, of His abiding love and faithfulness.( Daniel 3:22-28, Daniel 6)
In all these fearful encounters, God was more than able to deliver His children. Our hearts should be encouraged and our faith emboldened by God’s unchanging nature and the truth to His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20)
God’s faithfulness is His pride, His unfailing promise to be by us even in the deepest part of a storm (Psalm 139:8)
God wants to reassure us even now, evermore, that He is our rest-assured protector, lover and ultimate redeemer.
As we walk through life, daily and all-year round, a supreme assurance like this coming through the eternal words of God will still and calm our fears that God is always there to deliver us, when danger strikes.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.( Hebrews 4:16
