When It Seems the Lord Is Sleeping
Do you not care that we are perishing?
It was a bold yet understandable question. It’s one we might be too afraid to ask God explicitly, but one we ponder in the depth of our heart. Jesus and the disciples were in the boat together when the great storm arose (Mark 4:35–41). The wind violently forced its way across the sea, mindless of anything in its path. The joints of the boat were no match against the power of the waves, and the wood began to splinter. Water filled the boat, and it wouldn’t be much longer until all was lost.
In the midst of this madness, a man lay asleep in the stern of the ship—not just any man, but the Son of Man himself, the one who created and sustains all things with his word. There he lay, asleep, doing nothing to fix the problem or comfort the distressed sailors. Perhaps the disciples speak for all of us when they ask, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).
While we were not on the boat with them, we’ve gone through the same doubts. It may not be a relentless wind, but for us it’s an ongoing relationship struggle that has us on the brink of despair. Instead of crushing waves, we’re overcome by problems at work that seem to be without a solution. Stress and complications flood our life, and we are on the verge of drowning.
And the Lord seems to be asleep, doing nothing.
It’s hard not to wonder “why?” Why doesn’t the Lord act faster? Why wait until the boat starts to flood? Why does he tarry?
The Doubting Disciples
Jesus eventually asked the disciples a different “why” question: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Jesus diagnosed their fear as a lack of faith.
While struggling with my own doubt, I can easily judge the disciples for theirs. Didn’t they realize God was on the boat . . . how could they doubt? Surely, they knew that the Son of Man didn’t come to earth to drown in the sea. Didn’t they realize Jesus was training them to be pillars of his church? Couldn’t they see he was going to protect them?
They, like us, lost sight of the bigger picture. The promises of God can be difficult to hold onto during a whirlwind. While I can’t physically see Jesus with me, he promised he would be until the end of the age; yet I still doubt when the storms come. Do I not realize God is going to protect me? Why am I so afraid? Oh, me of little faith.
The Ever-Faithful Christ
Despite the doubting disciples, the Lord displays his sovereign power before their very eyes. He says, “Peace!” and the wind dies down. He says, “Be still!” and the waves obey (Mark 4:39). After such a miraculous display, the convicting question “Have you still no faith?” stings even more (Mark 4:40). How could these disciples doubt the one to whom even the wind and waves obey? How could I doubt the one who is always so faithful?
The Lord will always work out his will in the lives of his children; sometimes he will redirect the storm, at other times he will guide us through it. Sometimes he will wait until the boat is about to sink before he moves. Fear not, child of God, our lives are in his hands. Scripture provides story after story of God’s faithfulness and presence even when his people doubted.
The Israelites were slaves for four hundred years and the Lord didn’t seem to do anything about it. Sarah, although promised a child, remained barren for twenty-five years. Joseph went through years of mistreatment and false allegations. Yet, in all these situations where it seemed like the Lord wasn’t working, he was getting his people in position to show his mighty power. He delivered his people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, Sarah finally received the child of promise in her old age, and Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt, saving his family from famine.
The words of 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 come to mind: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” The passage goes on to tell us, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (vv. 17–18).
The Ongoing Struggle With Doubt
I recently spent time working in a remote village in Peru. To get there, I had to fly halfway across the US to get to the Miami airport, take a six-hour flight to Lima, and then load up in an overpacked van, weaving back and forth on dirt roads up the Andes Mountains. When I finally arrived, I somewhat jokingly thought: “I don’t know where the end of the earth is, but I think I’m pretty close.” Thankfully, even there, I could rest in the truth that Christ promised to be with me and powerfully work through me even to the ends of the earth.
Yet, even knowing these truths and these powerful stories from Scripture, my heart still doubts. I know his promises are true and still I give over to fear when the waves grow large. I know he can work powerfully in any situation but find myself wondering if he will this time. This internal struggle continually takes me back to the prayer of the desperate father in Mark 9: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24).
Thankfully, even when the disciples’ faith gave way to their fears, Jesus still calmed the storm. He is faithful to his promises even when we doubt, and he sovereignly works in ways that reassure his children that he can be trusted. He has never failed me; he has never forsaken me.
When the wind is howling and the waves are overbearing, remember our Lord promised he would always be with us, even if it seems he’s asleep on the boat. He doesn’t always work according to our timing, but he is always at work. Our trust is not in ourselves or the circumstances we see around us, but rather in the one whom even the wind and sea obey.
James Williams serves as Associate Pastor at FBC Atlanta, Texas, and as a GCD staff writer. He and his wife, Jenny, are blessed with four children and are actively involved in foster care. He is passionate about beholding the beauty of our Lord and helping others do the same. He enjoys writing, running, and gardening. You can follow James on Twitter or his blog where he writes regularly.