It wasn’t a “God-storm.”
The disciples were wrong. They were wacked-out–frantic over a poor use of faith.
They were probably reflecting back to several weeks earlier, when they were in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, got swatted by a cloud burst with huge waves, thunder and lightning, were surrounded by other little boats, and Jesus walked on the water to save them.
Now, that was a “God-storm.” In other words, a storm that required the hand of God. But the little squall that blew up on this night was not a “God-storm.”
The disciples should have known–for Jesus was sound asleep on a pillow in the boat.
Let’s keep in mind–you’ve got four fishermen on this craft–at least that many. This isn’t their first raft trip. It’s not the first time they saw the waters well up around them.
But back before they were disciples–when they were men–they handled it. If they didn’t, they died.
But now, you see, they had faith.
And their faith, instead of making them whole, had made them lazy.
They didn’t need to wake up Jesus. They had just grown accustomed to the Master handling all the difficulties, and they were in no mood to put themselves in jeopardy by practicing what they had been taught.
They didn’t want to “take no thought” about the storm.
They didn’t want to be the “salt of the Earth and the light of the world.”
They were completely content being followers–while Jesus was trying to make leaders.
They were lazy.
This is the same problem we have in the Christian church today. The faith we espouse is making us lazy instead of whole.
For I will tell you–I cannot attest to the fact that the Christians I know are the nicest people I know.
I cannot testify that these same Christians are the smartest, most generous, most open-minded and most forgiving people I have encountered.
They are simply too damn lazy from living off grace to use their faith.
Somehow or another, Jesus had called men to be on his team, and they had all turned into little children: “Daddy! We’re gonna drown! Don’t you care?”
Even two ounces of faith would tell you that if Jesus is asleep on the pillow, this must be a livable situation.
Maybe it’s a “Me-storm.” That’s one that only requires “me” involved to produce a safe conclusion.
Maybe it’s an “Us-storm.” That would include my partner and myself, working together to provide energy, brains and faith.
Perhaps it’s a “We-storm.” We might have to beckon the whole family, maybe the congregation, the town, or who knows? The nation.
But when it’s not a “God-storm,” don’t expect God to take care of it.
Jesus wanted his disciples to trust him. But he wanted to trust them, too.
So if you want to have a Christian walk and you want to be Jesonian, you’ll have to learn the difference between a “God-storm” and a “Me-storm.”
After all, it’s not that God fails to answer your prayers. He just wonders why you’re so lazy, and don’t answer your own.
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