Lenten Reflection #6: Jesus Sleeps

Lenten Reflection #6: Jesus Sleeps

“Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping.”
(Matthew 8:24, HCSB)

It must not be a problem if Jesus can sleep through it.

I am not surprised by the storm around the boat. I am not surprised that Jesus can sleep during the storm. I am just impressed that Jesus can sleep through the storm in an open boat. However, Jesus knows something we need to learn. If Jesus can sleep through it, then it can’t be a big problem. In the end, Jesus calms the storm – because the disciples are so scared they ask for His help. I have always looked at this story as: when a storm hits, ask Jesus and He calms the storm for you. However, the real surprising lesson is what Jesus is showing His disciples by sleeping through the storm. Many times we are like the disciples. We try to ask God to help us by eliminating the storm. What Jesus is really trying to teach us is to get used to the storms enough that you are able to easily sleep through them. That takes less fear and more faith.

What is something in your life which you wish God would take away? Does God really want to take it away from you or is He trying to teach you to rest in Him during the storm?