If Jesus is Sleeping ...

Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark record the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat as the disciples attempt to cross the sea. A storm comes up threatening to sink the boat but Jesus continues to sleep ...

Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 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?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

... How is it that Jesus can continue to sleep in the midst of the storm yet I am in a panic?

Perhaps it is because I can only see the storm, and Jesus knows he can bring it to a calm by simply saying "Quiet! Be still!"

LORD, help me take my cues from Jesus and not from the people and circumstances that surround me.