Resting with Jesus in the storm!?

Reflecting on Mark 4:35-41

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
As a Jesus follower, I can imagine Jesus asking me this.
I can relate to the disciples: they are drawn to Jesus!
And yet they are still afraid, still without faith.
If I was in that storm, I would be like the disciples.
I am still afraid in the storms, still wondering about Jesus.

I work for a mission group that supports schools in Haiti and DR.
The situation in Haiti is horrific, though the media says little.
They are in a state of lawlessness, the gangs run the country.
In the last 9 months the death toll is almost 5000.
Supplies and support cannot be sent, and the people are desperate.
Our Haitian director shared stories, and I was overwhelmed.
The afraid, angry, frustrated, sickened, despairing kind of overwhelmed.
“Jesus, don’t you care if they suffer and die?” (Mark 4:38).

It is as if Jesus is asleep during their storm.
If I could wake him and get him to stop the storm, I would risk His rebuke.
But my prayers, and the prayers of many, don’t seem to be waking Him.
It is in times like these that I wonder about Jesus.
‘Who is this? If He can command the wind and waves obey Him, why not help Haiti?’
Not just Haiti, but so many places around the world, and through history???

Through the storms, I still am drawn to Jesus.
Though I don’t understand yet Who He is, I trust Him enough.
I see His love and compassion for strugglers, and I am inspired.
I see His suffering and struggling with people, His tears for those who die.
I see His willingness to be tortured and crucified, and I am hopeful.
Human suffering does not make it easy to have faith in Jesus.
But I have even less faith in the alternatives, if there are any?
Do I put my hope in human saviours or solutions?
Do I put my hope in governments, or the UN?
Do I trust blind chance and evolutionary progress?
I don’t know why Jesus isn’t waking up, but I do know He cares!

In times like these I need to let go of my need to control.
I can’t fix the problems there, I can only offer mustard seed support.
Jesus is inviting me to rest in Him during this storm.
Jesus is also inviting Haitians to rest with Him in this storm.
The storm is happening, and human effort is not working.
He trusted God to get Him to the other side.
In this storm, but also in the storm at Golgotha.
When the fury of darkness was unleashed on Him, He rested in God.
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
The storm was raging, and He was resting, trusting.
He was with those in the storm, showing us how to trust God.

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
If Haitians are doubting, afraid and wondering if Jesus cares, I get it.
I know I still do not have faith to rest like Jesus in the storm.
But I will stay with Jesus, knowing that Jesus is staying with me.
And when I hear from Haitian believers, they are too!
He is with me, and them in this storm, getting us through it!
And the wind and waves, and the gang members, cannot stop Him.
To my overwhelmed feelings, and to the darkness in Haiti, I yell:
“Quiet! Be still” (Mark 4:39), because Jesus is here!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I know I need to learn to rest with You, trusting God through the storms. But please wake up, and silence the storms. 

You can rebuke my lack of faith, but please do something soon. Something that lead me and others to ask, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"