Dear New Hope Family,

In the Gospel of Mark we read this story,

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Getting called out by Jesus is bad enough, but being called a “scaredy cat” and faithless is even worse! I don’t blame them for being afraid! Facing a storm so big and powerful that it could end our lives is something we here in SWFL understand all too well.

Is Jesus telling His disciples (and us) that we shouldn’t be afraid? Even in the face of a powerful hurricane?! Fear is not the problem until it causes us to question Jesus’ love for us.

When we ask: “Don’t you care if we drown?” we nullify all that He has done in our lives up to this point. How many times had Jesus been there for the disciples and powerfully answered their prayers?! How quickly we forget yesterday’s provision when the problem of today looms so large…

We are about to face a huge storm together. It is OK to be afraid. In your fear, do not doubt for a moment Christ’s love, power, or presence in the storm! If you are in the boat with Jesus, you can be “completely calm.”

Praying for you,

~Pastor David