If Jesus Sleeps, So Can I—Two2Grow, Wednesday, September 9
If Jesus Sleeps, So Can I—Two2Grow, Wednesday, September 9
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” Mark 4:38a NIV
By Emelie Stenhammar
When a young child, in the company of a parent, faces something unfamiliar or perhaps frightening, I have noticed many times that they look to their parent’s face. They want to know, by their parent’s reaction, whether this is something to worry about or not. If the parent is calm, then the child can remain calm as well. But if the parent looks worried, then it is cause for panic.
I come from a family with many children. When my parents bought groceries, it could be quite costly. I remember how my little brother would hold his breath and anxiously look for the reaction on my parents’ faces every time the cashier mentioned the amount that needed to be paid. To him, the cost was astronomical—would it be so for his parents too? If they looked calm, he could relax and breathe again. I don’t know why this troubled him so much, as we, to my recollection, never had any problems paying for our food. But it clearly did.
I think there is something we can learn from this, though: when we go through troubles—and we will—we should look at our Parent, Jesus. And if He is not worried, then neither should we be.
The disciples found themselves in the greatest storm. Many of them were fishermen and were used to the water and bad weather, but this storm was clearly something else. They were sure this was the end. If they, like my brother, had looked at the face of their Parent, they would not have needed to worry. Jesus was sleeping in the boat. Instead of waking Him up in fear, faith like a child would snuggle up beside Him. If Jesus is at peace, then I don’t need to worry either.
Jesus, when the storms of life hit me, help me to look to You. Then I will see that You are at peace, and I, like a child, will not have to fear either. Amen.
By Emelie Stenhammar
When a young child, in the company of a parent, faces something unfamiliar or perhaps frightening, I have noticed many times that they look to their parent’s face. They want to know, by their parent’s reaction, whether this is something to worry about or not. If the parent is calm, then the child can remain calm as well. But if the parent looks worried, then it is cause for panic.
I come from a family with many children. When my parents bought groceries, it could be quite costly. I remember how my little brother would hold his breath and anxiously look for the reaction on my parents’ faces every time the cashier mentioned the amount that needed to be paid. To him, the cost was astronomical—would it be so for his parents too? If they looked calm, he could relax and breathe again. I don’t know why this troubled him so much, as we, to my recollection, never had any problems paying for our food. But it clearly did.
I think there is something we can learn from this, though: when we go through troubles—and we will—we should look at our Parent, Jesus. And if He is not worried, then neither should we be.
The disciples found themselves in the greatest storm. Many of them were fishermen and were used to the water and bad weather, but this storm was clearly something else. They were sure this was the end. If they, like my brother, had looked at the face of their Parent, they would not have needed to worry. Jesus was sleeping in the boat. Instead of waking Him up in fear, faith like a child would snuggle up beside Him. If Jesus is at peace, then I don’t need to worry either.
Jesus, when the storms of life hit me, help me to look to You. Then I will see that You are at peace, and I, like a child, will not have to fear either. Amen.