Is Jesus asleep in your boat?

The disciples were in trouble. A storm brewed on the Lake of Galilee. According to Jesus, exhausted from ministering in a coastal town, now they needed to cross to the other side of the lake. He hunkered down for a much-needed sleep. But the storm worsened and the twelve feared for their lives. And their rabbi was asleep. Didn't he care that they were about to die?

So they rustled him awake. They figured Jesus would be able to lend an extra hand to keep the boat from capsizing. What they didn't expect was that the Son of God had authority to command the wind and waves to calm down. That's what he did. It astounded the disciples that the storm obeyed him. Then Jesus surprised them again by saying, "O you of little faith!"

Let's put ourselves in this story. Are you experiencing a severe "storm" in your life? Use this script as a way to cry out to the Savior to turn your situation into his care. Let's see if it increases your trust and faith in Jesus.

 

Jesus Calms a Storm

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Your Storm

One day things were going pretty much as expected. I knew Jesus loved me and was somehow present with me. I could sense him generally guiding my life.
Then this unexpected storm came into my life:

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It didn't feel like Jesus was paying attention, like he was busy helping other people, or maybe even asleep on the job.
The storm got worse and I thought I was going down. I felt [insert feeling adjectives]:

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So I cried out to Jesus. "Jesus, don't you even care about what's going on here?" [continue to pour out your heart, telling Him how you feel]:

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Now imagine Jesus "waking up" and taking care of your storm. If the storm is in your past, then notice the subtle ways He took care of you through it, or stilled the storm, or got you around it. But if the storm is still raging, picture how He might get you through it, around it, or take charge by stilling the current storm. [write your thoughts here]:

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Now thank Him in your own words. It may be a combination of still crying out to Him (lamenting/venting), and expressing gratitude:

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Sounds strange, but now imagine Jesus having helped you in your storm, you being grateful, and yet He says to you, "Where is your faith?" Reflect on this question and then reply to Him. [write your response here]:

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How did you like doing this exercise? Go to my BLOG page and let me know your experience. I won't divulge your details or information, but I may incorporate your story into my blog. Thank you!