Panic Attacks

A few weeks ago, a missionary spoke at our church. His Scripture was Mark 4:35-41, the passage where the disciples find themselves in a boat in the middle of a lake in a great storm—a desperate situation. Jesus was with them…but Jesus was comfortably sleeping on a pillow all the while the waves beat on the boat.

 

In a panic, the disciples awoke Him and said (more likely screamed, I suspect), "Teacher, do You not care that we are drowning?" Appropriate question as the boat was filling with water.

 

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and sea, and then He rebuked His disciples. "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

 

The disciples panicked; still, they did the right thing. They went to Jesus.

 

But the truth was Jesus was with them in the boat! What if they had focused on Him and His peace and not the storm?

 

This time of summer, we often have thunderstorms. In fact, we had one early this morning. The thunder was booming outside, but we were safe inside. I remember one year when we sat on the floor at the open front door and safely watched from a distance as the lightning flashes caused the street lights to go off and on—great entertainment!

 

A storm is powerful. Yet, when Jesus is with us, we can relax and watch for the wondrous things He will work through the storm. We don't have to lose it like the disciples. We can have His peace that passes understanding. We can trust Him knowing He is with us and, as one song says, we won't be ruined ("He is With Us," Love & the Outcome).

 

Oswald Chambers wrote, "The clearest evidence that God's grace is at work in our hearts is that we do not get into panics."

 

So, the next time you find yourself or a family member in a storm, look at Jesus and don't panic. Instead, put your head on the pillow next to His. He cares!

"Casting the whole of your care

[all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all]

on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

1 Peter 5:7 AMP