This past week we lead our first ever retreat / reunion for former Transform Your World Evangelization Training Camp campers. Even though it was a small and socially distanced group we had all six years of camp represented.

We had college students and college grads. We had a married couple expecting their first baby, a young lady about to enter the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, a young man entering a discernment year for the Archdiocese of Chicago, we had a young lady about to begin her second year teaching high school theology and those still discerning God’s plans.

It was a wonderful and blessed experience.

On the last morning I was preparing the last talk. The Lord placed a Scripture passage on my heart, that of Mk 4:35-31, the story of Jesus calming the storm.

Several things really struck me. First, it was a "great storm of wind" (v. 37) that arose. ‘Great’ denotes something beyond the normal storm, perhaps even supernatural. This ‘storm’ we currently find ourselves is certainly a ‘great’ one. Beyond anything I have ever seen. It has violently tossed about our country, Church, economy, and family. Our emotions and peace our in turmoil.

The Apostles do what seems sensible to me, they wake Jesus. "Teacher, do you not care if we perish" (v. 38)? Do you hear that? They are asking Jesus if He cares…if He loves them! WE ARE SUFFERING LORD DO YOU NOT CARE?!?!

Jesus spoke into the storm and there was "great calm" (v. 40). A supernatural peace.

But then Jesus rebukes the Apostles for having been afraid and lacking faith. A rebuke??? This is where I am wresting with the Lord in this passage.

What were the Apostles suppose to do? Were they supposed to let Jesus sleep? Were they supposed to just wait out the storm? Were they supposed to try to miraculously calm the storm themselves?

At the risk of being to vulnerable, I want Jesus to wake up and calm this storm. But I also want what He wants. So, does that mean that we patiently wait, should we being doing something, or should we be attempting to do the miraculous?

Am I the only one wrestling with this or have you come upon the same questions?

Until the Lord tells me otherwise, I think we should do the following: We should continue to ask for the grace to be patient. We should find ways that we can bring peace and faith into the storm for us, our families and those we encounter. We should look for moments to speak into this storm ask for the miraculous to happening because I know that our God is the Great I AM.

AND because my faith is little, I will still attempt to wake Jesus so that He can bring a ‘great calm.’ :)

Blog by:
Casting Nets Ministries