Why Are You Afraid?

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 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?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41 NIV)

Why is it when we are going through a storm, we ask God why He doesn’t love us?  We accuse Him of not caring. “Why are you letting this happen to me?” And God says “Why are you afraid? Don’t you trust me?” Funny thing is sometimes I think we are more afraid of God than we are of our circumstances.  We don’t understand Him and he doesn’t fit into our “safe” box.  God is not safe.  But I don’t want Him to be.  Who would want to serve a God that was safe and predictable?  I want to serve a God that is powerful, unpredictable, creative, and way better at everything than I am including forgiving and loving.  I don’t want safe. I want amazing and glorious.  I want a God that will drop me to my knees in laughter or tears because He showed up in a way I totally didn’t expect and calmed the storm. And He does.

By Elaine Kapentanakis