I hardly ever give any of my time listening to celebrities and their opinions on current events. But I did hear one say, “we are all going through this together.” It occurred to me that while we are all going through the same storm, we are not all in the same boat.
John 16:33 — “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Romans 12:12 — “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
Romans 8:18 — “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Same Storm
- Currently have COVID-19
- Under a Stay-At-Home order
- Has had to change our day-to-day routine
Different Boat
- Experiencing unemployment for the first time in their lives
- Are worried about bills (mortgage, groceries, healthcare, etc.)
- Health issues that have nothing to do with COVID-19
- Homeschooling their children for the first time
- Suffer from anxiety, PTSD, depression, etc
- Going through this alone
- Are in the risk age range
- Do not have family nearby
- Separated from family for the first time
- Currently have COVID-19
- Cannot find groceries, medicine or protective wear
- Is a First Responder and putting themselves at risk daily going into work (Thank you to all of our first responders)
There is peace to be found in Christ Jesus for everyone going through what is listed above and more.
Mark 4:35-41 — “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
A few things stood out to me that we can draw comfort from in these verses.
“Let us go across to the other side” – Seems like an easy enough trip to plan for, right?
None of the disciples knew there was going to be a storm that would almost sink the boat. If they did, they probably wouldn’t have gotten in the boat. We never know what is up ahead, but Jesus does and IS worthy of our trust.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
I believe Jesus wanted to see what the disciples were going to do when a storm came. Were they going to pray about it? Were they going to trust Jesus was there with them and wouldn’t let the boat sink? I think they responded just like most of us would have. Every time I read this, I have to laugh as I would be doing the same thing, “Do you even care that I’m about to die?” Oh, the drama!
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Notice that as always, everything is under the authority of Jesus. The storm ceased, and there was a great calm. I pray that we all can experience a great calm during this COVID-19 storm. But Jesus goes one step further to challenge his disciples and ask two questions.
“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
I think these two questions could echo in today’s world just as it hung in the air around the disciples in that boat. We are not all going through COVID-19 the same way, but we can go through it with the same person – Jesus.
About the Author: Tj Todd is the CEO of Studio490 Creative Services and the Director of UNCOMMEN.