“Give It To God And Go To Sleep”

Empowering Thought

“But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the storm, resting on a cushion”.

Mark 4:38

The Bible says that after Jesus had finished teaching a large crowd of people by the lake, He said to His disciples “I have finished teaching for now let us go to the other side of the lake”. 

(Paraphrase Mark 4:35)

I have pondered on these verses of scripture at various times in my life, and especially during the challenging periods of my Christian life. The fact that Jesus was able to fall asleep in the middle of a raging storm, means that I can also do the same thing in a storm. Jesus said, “the works that I do you can also do them”. 

How do you stay peaceful and calm when everything in your life is slipping from underneath, when you have lost your job, or when you are experiencing pain from a relationship that was supposed to bring you joy? How do you sleep literally in the middle of a storm?

Firstly, I want to share a personal experience with you. Ten years ago, I was on a flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow. A few hours into the 10.5 hour flight, the Captain switched on the fasten your seat belt sign. The plane hit a massive turbulence and it began to turn from side to side and felt as if it was dropping. Everything was shaking and they stopped the meal service. I certainly was not going to eat anything in the middle of this turbulence! I then closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep, in imitation of Jesus falling asleep on a pillow in the middle of the storm. 

As I was gradually falling asleep, I began humming the words of a song which I had listened to over and over again during the period of 9/11. It was written by friends of mine titled ‘I will not be afraid’. The words of the song began to well up in my heart and descended into my mind, where all the fearful thoughts of crashing raged. As I hummed the song, I must have fallen asleep because I awoke to the announcement ‘We are beginning our descent into London Heathrow’. 

I learned firsthand the importance of depositing the word of God or truth in your heart daily. The words of the song, which was essentially the word of God, arose within my spirit and calmed me down. This then enabled me to sleep in the midst of a furious turbulence in the skies. 

Secondly, this is the reason why Jesus slept in the storm.  He said this to the disciples just before the storm “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake”. The key to sleeping in a storm is by dwelling on, and focusing on His word – “you will get to the other side”.

Thirdly, it takes great faith to sleep in a storm. This is what Jesus said to His disciples after He had rebuked and stilled the storm. “Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?” (Mark 4:40). 

Whenever you are restless and unable to rest in your emotions during difficult times, it is important to assess whether you are truly trusting Jesus, and whether you are in faith. 

Dear friend, no matter what storm is raging in your life, in your family, in your relationships or in the world today, I want to encourage you and be a reminder that you will get to the other side. We will get to the other side. Therefore go to sleep in your heart, knowing that He is with you on the boat and you will get to the other side safely.

Stay peaceful in the midst of the raging storms in our world. Speak to the storms, speak and declare what you want to see in your relationships, in your life, and in the world. 

You have the authority to declare and see change in your circumstances and in everything. 

Reflect Further

Mark 4:1-40

John 6:63

John 14:12