Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4 ESV
This verse was in my morning devotional, and it touched me because it is one I struggle with. Yes, I believe God is watching, but there are nights when I still lie awake, wrestling with things I wish would change, worrying about the next day, or just having random thoughts racing through my mind. At those times, one of the most comforting things is remembering that there are others who God has put in my life to come alongside me in weakness. Yes, God watches, but he also sends widows to feed prophets, little boys to share their lunch with hungry multitudes, and spiritual mothers who stand by us when we are on the cross. God watches us, God’s love connects us and He will see us all through till the morning He wakes us to come sit by His side forever!
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:37-38 NKJV
Usually, we come to this portion of scripture and race ahead to the end where Jesus marvelously stands up and orders the winds and waves to be calm. But there was another miracle taking place, even before that. In the middle of all the panic, waves and wind, Jesus actually fell asleep! Let’s try for a moment to imagine that scene from the perspective of the disciples as they feverously worked to keep the ship afloat, while shouting to one other over the wind:
“Row harder John!”
“Leave me alone Peter. You just keep bailing!”
“Matthew! What are you doing? This isn’t a tax collector’s booth. Grab an oar and help out!”
“James, since you aren’t doing anything else, won’t you at least go wake up Jesus? Maybe He knows what to do!”
All the while as they struggled, and in spite of the waves that were washing over the side of the boat, Jesus slept soundly on a pillow in the stern. Some have presumed that Jesus was just pretending to sleep, but the Bible makes no such statement. After a long day of preaching, praying for thousands of people, and then walking miles down to the boat Jesus was just flat out exhausted. But neither the demands of HIs ministry nor the immediate commotion around Him in the storm, caused Him to miss the opportunity to rest.
Maybe some of us have problems with our relationships, our jobs, and even our health because we miss the opportunities that God gives us to rest. We don’t have to wait for vacation time, some religious event or the weekend to rest. We don’t have to row harder, bail faster or run around in a panic. God’s peace is just as available to us right where we are, as it was for Jesus in the storm. When we can fully trust God’s control over every problem that we face, then we can rest in Him. He knows what to do. He won’t let our boat go down. His plan will be completed in His way. He is the Master of our seas. Winds and waves still obey His will, and His love still lifts us up so that we can rest in Him!
If a piece of steel is bent back and forth enough times it will become fatigued to the point of structural failure. Do you sometimes feel distressed to the point of giving up? Jesus’ disciples felt they had reached their breaking point. They had been pressed to the limit day after day often with little sleep and scarcely a moment to eat. All this they had endured because every day Jesus knew what to do next. He healed the sick gave sight to a man who had never been able to see and even raised His friend Lazarus from the grave. But on that night when Jesus took the bread and cup and told them of His coming death they were left in spiritual shock.
Jesus prayed in agony just a stone’s throw away but they fell asleep: and not just once or twice but three times! Their hearts were overwhelmed by fear and sorrow for what lay ahead. Do you feel like His disciples tonight? It is okay. Jesus was the Son of God but not superman and He doesn’t expect us to be either!
Don’t misunderstand He does expect us to watch and pray. But Jesus was weary and rested by the well. Jesus was hungry and ate real food at parties. Jesus knew sorrow and He wept at the grave of His friend. Jesus was so sleepy that He even fell asleep in a boat in a storm! The secret Jesus had was not super strength but rather yielding His weaknesses to God. There He found a strength that carried Him all the way to the cross. We must remember that it was not till after Jesus slept in the boat that He awoke and calmed the storm!
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38 NKJV
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