Sunday Evenings With JoniNäide

I love those four words so much: just as He was. I can picture the disciples, after a full day of ministry, taking Jesus into the boat, just as He was.

But then:

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Verse 37, 38

One Sunday evening, Joni and I talked about what we would have done if we were on the boat with Jesus.

“If we had been in the boat, Ruth,” she shared, “it would be easier for us to trust because we have the whole Bible, two thousand years of church history, the resurrection, and the Holy Spirit too. The disciples didn’t have all that.”

(Remember when we talked about the cloud of witnesses—Day 2?)

“Yes, that’s true,” I responded, not convinced, “But, Joni, they had Jesus! Jesus, just as He was…”

But in all honesty, I would have done what the disciples did—run around in circles trying to save myself, keep the sails from ripping, and the boat from sinking, all while crying out, “Jesus, where are You, don’t You care?”

Jesus does none of that. In His infinite wisdom, He doesn’t even look at the chaos the storm causes, but instead addresses the source of the problem. He rebukes the wind and tells it to be still. And the wind does exactly as He says.

All is calm.

That’s Jesus—whether in a storm on the Sea of Galilee or in a spiritual battle in our lives—Jesus goes to the accuser, the attacker of our faith.

It’s not the absence of storms, but Jesus in the midst of them, Joni and I conclude… He knows what to do.

And she added, “You know what I hope I would do, Ruth? I would hold on to the rigging and lean over to whisper in Jesus’ ear not to wake up.

‘Don’t wake up, Jesus. Rest easy, for I know our Father’s grace will see me through this storm.’”

“Oh!” she added with a smile so bright, “to have the chance to show Jesus that I trust Him to be in control, no matter what!”

Reflection:

1. Is there an area in your life where you’ve been rushing to fix the chaos of a storm—instead of bringing it all to Jesus and waiting for Him?

2. Commit to a week of not fixing it and bring it all to Him. At the end of each day, take a few minutes to write down if and how this makes a difference.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, You were asleep (on a cushion!) while the storm raged. The disciples were so worried! Still, you were in control, in Your perfect time. Lord, I give you all my storms. I long to know you better, just as You are. In Your name, Amen.