A Prayer for When Storms Arise
By Kyle Norman
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was swamped. Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” (Mark 4:37-38)
When was the last time that you were in a storm? Did you enjoy it? Did you find it inspiring and beautiful? I doubt it. When you are inside, watching a storm from the safety of your living room, a storm can be fun to watch; it can feel magnificent and awesome, but when you are caught in the middle of a storm, it’s a whole other matter. Whether you are walking along a roadway, driving in your car with your windshield wipers struggling to keep up with the rain, or stuck in a boat in the middle of a lake, storms feel threatening and overbearing.
The disciples experience this very thing. Jesus had been teaching beside Lake Gennesaret for hours. As night approached, Jesus invited the disciples to journey with him to the other side of the lake. They welcomed this invitation. Not only was it a rest from the demands of ministry, but finally, they would be able to spend some alone time with Jesus. As they sail across the lake, Jesus, tired from the day of teaching and healing, falls asleep in the stern. This wouldn’t have been a problem except for the storm that erupted around them.
Let’s not downplay this scene. The storm wasn’t gentle or understated. The wind didn’t just blow a bit beyond their comfort, and the waves weren’t just “a little choppy.” No, this was an intense and almost violent storm. Waves crashed over the sides of the boat, and the wind howled around them. The disciples struggled to keep the boat steady. And through it all, Jesus slept.
We don’t know how long the disciples struggled with the storm for, or how long Jesus was left sleeping, but we do know that at one point, the disciples began to feel abandoned by their Lord. They felt they were facing the storm alone, and so they woke Jesus and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?” “Jesus, aren’t you concerned about what we are facing?” Jesus, don’t you care about us?”
Have you ever echoed those statements? I’m sure, in some way, we all have. It’s natural to question where Christ’s power is when the storms of life erupt against us. Maybe it’s a diagnosis, maybe a job loss, a relational breakdown, or something else altogether, but when such storms occur, we can find ourselves struggling just to exist in the moment. All our energy, all our resolve, and all our faith are spent trying to avoid being swallowed up by the storm that blows hard against us.
If you have ever been in such a storm and have found these questions going through your mind, don’t condemn yourself – you are just doing what all disciples do from time to time. But try to remember that beyond the furor of the storm, Jesus remains. See, Jesus is asleep, not be because he is unconcerned about the disciples, but because he is unconcerned about the storm. The Lord of life remains in the boat, and because Jesus is with us, we can be confident there is no wind strong enough to blow us off course. There is no wave big enough that will drown out the Lord’s presence. What the disciples perceived as divine rejection was steadfast resilience rooted in Christ’s presence.
As the event progresses, Jesus calms the wind and waves by a single command. But he quiets the waves, not to prove that he can make the storm go away, but to show that he can be trusted when the storm seems to remain. Jesus proves his presence is what we need for any storm that we experience.
True, Jesus might not stop the storm from coming upon us. Winds may blow, and waves may crash, and that can be difficult to experience. But Jesus remains in the storm-riddled boat along with us. Given that, we have a choice as to what we focus on. We can focus on the wind and the waves and the furious squall erupting around us. Or we can focus on the presence of the Lord. And while we may not always see what he is up to, the fact that he is in the boat with us makes all the difference.
Let’s pray:
Gracious God, our Protector, our Defender, and our Savior.
Storms can so often rage about us and cause us to be afraid. Without warning, they erupt over us, causing us to fear. Lord, protect me from despair and deliver me from all my fear. I pray that you strengthen my resolve to stand in your presence during the storms of my life. Preserve me from unbelief and strengthen my faith. And in those times when I am tempted to question your presence or your activity in my life, open my eyes to see you; open my heart to receive your calm.
This I pray through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
** This prayer is based on the Collect for the Proper 12 from the Anglican Church of Canada.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/whiteson
The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.
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