Keep Trusting God During the Storm: Lessons from Mark 4:35-41
Life’s storms can appear suddenly and without warning. Whether you’re currently weathering a difficult season, just emerging from one, or about to enter challenging times, the biblical account of Jesus calming the storm offers powerful encouragement for every believer.
In Mark 4:35-41, we find a familiar yet profound story that reminds us why we should keep trusting God even when life’s fiercest storms threaten to overwhelm us.
Why Do Storms Come Even When We’re Following God?
It’s important to note that this storm arose while the disciples were directly following Jesus’ instructions. In verse 35, Jesus had said, “Let us go over to the other side.” The disciples weren’t disobedient or off course—they were precisely where Jesus told them to be.
This teaches us an important truth: following God’s will doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing. Sometimes the most violent storms hit when we’re exactly where God wants us to be.
How Should We Trust God During Life’s Toughest Times?
The text describes “a fierce gale of wind” with waves breaking over the boat until it was filling with water. This wasn’t a minor inconvenience—it was a life-threatening situation.
We all face “all of a sudden” storms in life:
- An unexpected job loss
- A sudden health crisis
- Financial difficulties that appear overnight
- Relationship problems that erupt without warning
- Children who suddenly start making poor choices
Remember Job? He was doing everything right—praying, serving God, caring for his family—when suddenly, disaster struck from every direction. These storms happen to even the most faithful believers.
God Is Spot-On When Directing Our Lives
Jesus gave the invitation: “Let us go over to the other side.” When God directs your path, He knows exactly what lies ahead—including the storms. His commandments are His enablements. He didn’t promise an easy journey, but He did guarantee they would reach their destination.
When following God’s will, no matter what comes your way, remember He knows what’s happening. He’s always in control, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
Jesus Is Always Close Enough to Deliver Us
Verse 36 tells us, “they took Him along with them in the boat.” Jesus was physically present with them during the storm. Similarly, Christ is close enough to you in whatever storm you’re facing.
As humans, we don’t have the capacity to handle overwhelming difficulties alone. That’s why we need to lean into Jesus daily through prayer, so when tough times come, we’re already positioned to receive His comfort and strength.
Our Lord Remains Cool in the Midst of Our Chaos
One of the most striking details in this story is found in verse 38: “Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.” While the disciples panicked, Jesus slept peacefully.
Have you ever felt like God was “asleep” during your crisis? Have you wondered, “Lord, don’t you care that I’m perishing?” The disciples certainly did. They woke Jesus with the desperate question, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Jesus’ apparent lack of concern wasn’t indifference—it was confidence. He knew who controlled the storm. His peace wasn’t dependent on circumstances but on His identity and authority.
How Does Jesus Respond to Our Negative Circumstances?
Christ responds in His own timing to our difficulties. Sometimes we pray expecting an immediate “yes,” but God may answer differently than we expect. Sometimes He says “no.” Sometimes He allows the storm to strengthen our faith.
In this case, Jesus “got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.'” The original language conveys something more forceful—essentially telling the elements to “shut up” and “be muzzled.” This wasn’t a gentle Lassie or Benji storm; this was a ferocious “Cujo” storm that required divine authority to subdue.
The result? “The wind died down and it became perfectly calm.” One scholar described it as “the sea sank to rest as if exhausted by its own beating.”
If Jesus can calm the wind and waves, He can certainly calm whatever storm rages in your life. And if He’s not calming it yet, He’s preparing you for something greater through it.
Why Do We Still Struggle with Fear Despite Knowing Jesus?
After calming the storm, Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Notice the mild rebuke. The disciples had questioned Jesus’ care for them, and now Jesus questioned their faith in Him.
Their response is telling: “They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?'”
Even after witnessing this miracle, the disciples were still learning who Jesus truly was. Their journey of faith was ongoing—just like ours.
Life Application
Keep praising Jesus because He’s in your boat right now. Whatever storm you’re facing, He’s with you. The disciples “took Him along with them in the boat,” and we have the same privilege of Christ’s presence in our lives.
Here are some questions to reflect on this week:
- What “storm” am I currently facing that I need to trust Jesus with?
- How might God be using my current difficulties to prepare me for something greater?
- When have I experienced Jesus calming a storm in my life before? How can that memory strengthen my faith now?
- Who needs to hear my testimony about how Jesus has worked in my life?
This week, commit to telling someone about who Jesus is and what He’s done for you. Your testimony has power—nobody can tell your story like you can. If He has delivered you from trials, healed your body, or simply given you strength to endure, tell someone about the goodness of the Lord.
Remember who Jesus is: the Alpha and Omega, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the King of Kings who died for you and rose again with all power in His hands. This is the One who is in your boat during the storm.
