I was surviving my first winter in the frozen tundra of interior Alaska, but just barely. The negative forty degree temperature and near-constant darkness were survivable with some excellent winter gear, various forms of vitamin D supplements, and some grit. But the icy roads were threatening to be the death of me, literally. The temperatures don’t get high enough to melt any of the snow until April, and the plows can’t get the hard packed snow off the ground, so you don’t see the blacktop for six months of the year. With the nearest moderate-sized town thirty miles away, no street lights to light the way, temperatures too cold for road salt to be of use, and an unusual December ice storm that year, conditions were treacherous. The winter was nowhere near over and I had already spun out twice, landing in a ditch, once in a remote area with no cell service.
Life keeps on moving, though, and I still had to drive the long road on occasion for medical appointments, veterinary visits, or supplies. Each trip was mentally and physically taxing for me. Stomach tight. Heart racing. White knuckles clutching the steering wheel. I’d feel my car fishtailing on the ice and watch other drivers slide through stop signs. I’d take the passenger seat as often as I could, but it wasn’t much better to have even less control. I’d hold our new puppy on my lap in an effort to calm both our nerves (we were trying to desensitize her fear of the car in preparation for summer road trips!), but even going twenty miles below the speed limit felt like a rollercoaster ride on an icy sheet of glass with no tracks. I didn’t blame the dog for being terrified. I was, too.
These icy roads were rocking my boat.
As that glacial winter crawled to an end, I happened to be reading through the book of Matthew, and when I came across the familiar story of Jesus calming the storm, for the first time I could really relate to the anxiety the disciples must have been feeling as the waves threatened to overtake their boat. All indicators pointed to the likelihood that they were going to die, and on Jesus’ watch. When it came down to it, I didn’t really believe I was going to die on those roads, but my body was reacting to the danger and it was wearing on my heart. The disciples didn’t know how to handle the danger, either. They knew enough to go to Jesus, but they still thought they were going to drown, even with the Savior right there next to them.
Jesus’ response? He calmed the storm with just a word. “You of little faith,” he said, “Why are you so afraid?” Of course, he knew why they were afraid. There was a dangerous storm. But it was more than that. Jesus wanted them to believe that even in the middle of truly dangerous situations they didn’t need to fear, if they would understand who he is and what he can do.
Ultimately, the disciples were afraid for three reasons:
- They didn’t believe Jesus was aware of their need. He was asleep at the back of the boat, apparently oblivious to their perilous situation. How could he help if he didn’t even see what was happening?
- They didn’t believe he truly cared about them. Sometimes in stressful situations, our deepest fears come to the surface. For the disciples, beneath their fear of the waves was a deeper fear— that Jesus didn’t really care about them. “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).
- They didn’t believe in his power. The disciples must have had a little bit of faith in Jesus’ ability to do something to save them or they wouldn’t have cried out to him for help. Still, after Jesus displayed his astonishing authority over the physical forces of nature by silencing them with just a word, they asked themselves, “Who is this, that even the wind and the waves obey him?” Jesus’ followers had already witnessed him do miraculous things, but still they didn’t truly understand who he was— the Son of God.
There are many different kinds of storms we face every day, and they don’t seem to be letting up. Inclement weather and natural disasters. Personal health crises and global pandemics. Political division and social unrest. Career setbacks and relational turmoil. It’s enough to put our hearts in a tailspin. In fact, mental health professionals, doctors, and teachers are all seeing a huge increase in the number of people suffering from anxiety and the residual effects it can have on our bodies and minds. Even my dentist remarked that where she used to see an occasional patient whose teeth and jaw showed evidence of excessive clenching, she is now seeing it in nearly every single patient.
When the storms of life threaten to overtake you, do you find yourself wondering where God is? Does it feel like he must be asleep on the job, otherwise he would have rescued you by now? Maybe your circumstances cause you to question whether God really cares or if he’s really able to handle your situation. It certainly looks big enough to overtake you, and it doesn’t seem like he’s coming.
Friend, he sees. He cares. He can. He Will. A look through the pages of Scripture and the pages of your life will remind you of his immeasurable love for you, his unmatchable power, and his unrelenting faithfulness. If you believe these things, then in your moment of need, all you have to do is ask him to take care of it. And if you aren’t sure if you believe? Then ask for the faith to believe, because these things are true:
He sees you and your needs.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31
“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'”
Genesis 16:13
He cares about you more than you can fathom.
For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a Mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Zephaniah 3:17
“…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:39
He is able to handle all that threatens to overwhelm you.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:4
He will intervene, if you ask.
“You do not have because you do not ask God.”
James 4:2b
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7
Those icy roads I had to face all winter with trepidation? They brought me to my knees. And while part of me hated having to endure it, my heart knew that these circumstances and even my anxiety were bringing me to a greater dependence on him.
We may not be able to control the storms that roll into our lives, but we can entrust ourselves to the One who can. We could even thank God for the hard and scary moments because they send us running straight to him, and we know there’s no better place to be.
I remember once writing about being driven to pray (literally) after being a passenger for a long, stressful road trip in the frozen tundra of Siberia. Talk about feeling out of control! I couldn’t speak much Russian, so all I could do was sit there, watching and praying with white knuckled hands clasped. You offer some excellent encouragement for all our white-knuckle moments. Thank you.
These truths from God are exactly what I needed this morning!! Thank you!!