When the Storm Hits: Rediscovering Faith in the God Who Sleeps Through Chaos
Mark 4:35–41
There are stories in the Bible that we’ve heard so many times they risk becoming mere children’s Sunday school tales. One of those is the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4. But if we slow down and really examine the details, the Spirit will open our eyes to deeper truth. What if I told you this passage is not just about wind and waves? It’s about cycles, decisions, and whether we truly trust the God we claim to follow.
That Day: Details That Demand Attention
“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.”
Mark 4:35 (KJV)
The phrase “that day” may seem minor, but it holds weight. Earlier that same day, the disciples had watched Jesus perform miracles, teach multitudes, and reveal spiritual truths. They weren’t new to His power. They were eyewitnesses to the supernatural. Yet when the storm came later that evening, doubt drowned their memory.
We’re no different. We shout Amen when God moves in someone else’s life, but we whisper fear when it’s our turn to believe for deliverance.
Old Faces, New Places: The Problem of Cycles
“And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship.”
Mark 4:36a (KJV)
They left the crowd behind to move forward with Jesus. The call to cross over required them to separate from the familiar. This is crucial. God often calls us to new places, but we try to take old baggage, old mindsets, or old relationships with us. That turns what should be a season into a cycle.
Seasons change with time. Cycles change with obedience.
God is calling some of you to leave behind environments that are rooted in fear, complacency, or compromise. You can’t expect freedom if you're still dragging the very weights He told you to drop.
Welcoming Him In: The Posture of Invitation
“They took him even as he was in the ship.”
Mark 4:36b (KJV)
Notice, Jesus didn’t drag them into the boat. They welcomed Him in. This is a spiritual principle we must grasp: God never forces Himself into a space where He’s not welcomed. Revelation 3:20 reminds us:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
If you’re sinking, ask yourself: Did I invite Him in or did I just assume He’d come along for the ride?
The Storm and the Silence
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”
Mark 4:37 (KJV)
The very boat that once held their direction now held their fear. What was once a vessel became a coffin in their minds. Isn’t that how it feels sometimes? You start out following Jesus in faith, but somewhere along the way the waves get bigger, the noise gets louder, and the doubts get heavier.
“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow...”
Mark 4:38a (KJV)
Jesus was asleep. The Prince of Peace was at peace. Not because He didn’t care, but because He already knew the end from the beginning. His rest was not ignorance. It was sovereignty.
They woke Him with a desperate plea:
“...Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
Mark 4:38b (KJV)
This is the heart cry of so many today. “God, do you even care?” We cry this in war zones, hospital beds, courtrooms, and silent prayers in the dead of night.
The Word That Shifts Atmospheres
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Mark 4:39 (KJV)
Jesus didn’t need to shout. He spoke to the storm, and creation obeyed. This same Jesus who calmed the storm then turns to His disciples and asks:
“Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
Mark 4:40 (KJV)
Remember what I said earlier. When God asks a question, it’s never because He lacks information. It’s because we lack revelation.
They had just witnessed Jesus heal, teach, and deliver. Yet they doubted His ability to carry them through. This was not a rebuke of ignorance, but of forgetfulness.
Modern Storms, Eternal Savior
In 2025, our storms look different. Economic instability, global wars, moral decay, AI-driven chaos, and rising persecution all contribute to a world seemingly out of control. But has God changed?
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
The same Jesus who calmed the storm on Galilee still walks into the chaos of our world and says, Peace, be still. The only question is: will we trust Him?
A Call to Repentance: Stop Forgetting What You’ve Seen
Have you been walking with Jesus and yet doubting His care for you? Have storms caused you to forget the miracles He’s already done?
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV)
It’s time to lay down your fear and pick up your faith. God is not asleep in negligence. He is present in power. If you’ve drifted from Him, repent and return. If you’ve never truly known Him, now is the time.
The Gospel Message: Your Storm Might Just Be the Wake-Up Call
All have sinned.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
Sin brings death.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
Jesus paid the price.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
Confess and believe.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:9 (KJV)
Conclusion: From Panic to Peace
The storm didn’t destroy the disciples. But it did reveal their hearts. That’s what storms do. They expose who or what we’ve really placed our faith in. Jesus never promised a storm-free life, but He did promise His presence through every wave.
So let me ask you what Jesus asked them:
“Why are you so afraid?”
Your answer might reveal more than you think.
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