“Don’t you care, God?” may seem like an extreme question to ask the One who made the world, and gave us life; who often helps us, and heals us, according to his loving will. But it is exactly the question the disciples asked Jesus at one point.
Most Bible readers are familiar with the story recorded in the Gospels, that on an occasion when Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee with his disciples a great storm rose up that threatened to capsize the boat and perhaps drown them. We remember the fact that, despite the storm, Jesus was sleeping in the boat, and the terrified disciples woke him to see what was happening, and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).
The fear of the disciples is very evident in this story – especially in the third gospel where Luke records their urgently repeated “Master,” “Master,” as they tried to waken Jesus (Luke 8:24). But we should remember these were men who made their living fishing on the great lake of Galilee, and this was doubtless not their first storm, so the situation probably was an extreme one.
But notice again the disciples’ question to Jesus: “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). Implicit in this question are two things. First, the disciples knew full well that Jesus had the power to help them. They had already seen many of his miracles by that point (Mark 3:7-12; etc.), and knew that he had the power of God. In that sense, their question was addressed as much to God as to Jesus.
The second thing we notice about the disciples’ question is that it so often typifies our human reaction when we suffer and wonder why God does not answer our prayers – when we are overwhelmed by our doubts and fears. This all-too-human reaction is seen elsewhere is the Bible – as when the psalmist pleads “Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself!” (Psalm 44:23). It is as though we accuse God of not looking at our situation, or somehow not caring about it.
But Jesus did not berate the disciples for their question. Instead, after he calmed the storm, and gave them a reply to make them think. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
It is a question we should ask ourselves, too, whenever we face life’s storms and we begin to fear or falter. Jesus’ words remind us that even when God seems distant, even when he may seem “asleep,” it does not mean that he is not there, or does not care, and that we simply need to call to him and then to trust him in faith that the storm will end. As the psalmist also wrote:
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind” (Psalm 107:29-31).
God has promised he will finish the work he began in us (Philippians 1:6), and although he does not promise he will stop storms from rising in our lives, he does promise he will get us to our destination.
Most Bible readers are familiar with the story recorded in the Gospels, that on an occasion when Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee with his disciples a great storm rose up that threatened to capsize the boat and perhaps drown them. We remember the fact that, despite the storm, Jesus was sleeping in the boat, and the terrified disciples woke him to see what was happening, and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).
The fear of the disciples is very evident in this story – especially in the third gospel where Luke records their urgently repeated “Master,” “Master,” as they tried to waken Jesus (Luke 8:24). But we should remember these were men who made their living fishing on the great lake of Galilee, and this was doubtless not their first storm, so the situation probably was an extreme one.
But notice again the disciples’ question to Jesus: “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). Implicit in this question are two things. First, the disciples knew full well that Jesus had the power to help them. They had already seen many of his miracles by that point (Mark 3:7-12; etc.), and knew that he had the power of God. In that sense, their question was addressed as much to God as to Jesus.
The second thing we notice about the disciples’ question is that it so often typifies our human reaction when we suffer and wonder why God does not answer our prayers – when we are overwhelmed by our doubts and fears. This all-too-human reaction is seen elsewhere is the Bible – as when the psalmist pleads “Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself!” (Psalm 44:23). It is as though we accuse God of not looking at our situation, or somehow not caring about it.
But Jesus did not berate the disciples for their question. Instead, after he calmed the storm, and gave them a reply to make them think. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
It is a question we should ask ourselves, too, whenever we face life’s storms and we begin to fear or falter. Jesus’ words remind us that even when God seems distant, even when he may seem “asleep,” it does not mean that he is not there, or does not care, and that we simply need to call to him and then to trust him in faith that the storm will end. As the psalmist also wrote:
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind” (Psalm 107:29-31).
God has promised he will finish the work he began in us (Philippians 1:6), and although he does not promise he will stop storms from rising in our lives, he does promise he will get us to our destination.
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