God knows it all. He knows the end of a situation from the beginning. He also knows that as humans, we do not know everything and yet we desire to.

Have you ever been in a place where you know in your head that everything will work out – you know the job will come, you know the relationship will be repaired, you know the bills will be paid – but you just can’t seem to believe that in your heart? I have been in that place many times.

One of my favourite Bible stories is when Jesus fell asleep in the boat of the disciples in Mark 4:35-41. This story to me perfectly captures what it is like as a believer to know the power of God yet doubt when we feel He is not showcasing that power in a present difficulty.

Mark 4:35 – On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

In the Bible story, it speaks of how when the evening had come and Jesus had finished His teaching, Jesus said to the disciples who had been listening and even had the privilege to get the full explanation of all his parables (Mark 4:34) “let us go across to the other side”.

I want us to pay attention to the context.

The disciples had been walking with Jesus. They knew who He was and the power within Him, so I imagine they too were confused when a windstorm so severe arose that “the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling”.

I ask that we do not go straight into what may be the “Christian” answer that can look like simply concluding that “God was building their faith”, and instead we wait with the disciples where they likely were at this moment in time. Jesus told them something was going to happen, but Jesus was silent in what looked like a perilous storm on the way to their destination. Does this sound familiar?

Beloved, you are in no sin for crying out to God. If it seems like He is silent, He is not angry if you shout for Him to rescue you. The disciples did not know Jesus’ power to calm the storm or the seas at this time. They knew some of His power but not the fullness of it just yet. They did not know His power extended to calming a storm but I’m sure they would believe He could.

The disciples were no stranger to the power of Jesus Christ. They knew He could do miracles and maybe that is why they cried out “do you not care that we are perishing”. I’ve said the same: Jesus, don’t you see me? Jesus why is this happening? Jesus, I know you can do it so why don’t you? Jesus, I know you can deliver so why haven’t you? Jesus, I know you are able so why haven’t you shown yourself?

You may not have seen God show up in the type of circumstances you are facing yet but that does not mean He is unable. If you need God to show up as Provider, call on Him to be your Provider. If you need God to show up as Friend, call on Him to do so. The disciples were in anguish and cried out to Jesus. This teaches us that when we are sinking – or feel like we are – we have an advocate to call upon and His name is Jesus.

Just in the previous chapter in Mark 3:7-12, they had seen Jesus heal many and unclean spirits bow before him acknowledging His authority. The disciples were not unaware of His power; they had the head knowledge – they knew what He could do. In the boat, they knew Jesus had power. They also knew that Jesus was asleep. The One with power to deliver in the midst of a storm was sleeping in their boat so surely, He didn’t care? But He did and He still does care.

Jesus said to the disciples, “let us go”, that meant Him and them. The disciples were not sent out alone into the water, Jesus went with them.

You are not alone. Jesus is with you.

Jesus told the disciples they would go to the other side so that means they would go to the other side. That is a fact. It is not unexpected to stay in a place of head knowledge: “I know God shall supply all my needs”, “I am strong”, but we need to have that truth in our hearts also.

What does that look like? It means that even in the midst of the storm, when we know it will work out but all we can see are rain clouds and feel the wind, we hold onto the truth that it will work out. We don’t have to know how because God has already factored that in.

When Jesus told them they would be going to the other side, He didn’t tell them that there would be a storm but of course the King of Creation knew that. He who made it was the same One who eventually stopped it.

If His word says He will supply all our needs, the red notice doesn’t not stop that truth. If He said that none shall lack their mate, then an absence of dates does not stop that truth. If He said we are going to get to the other side, nothing can stop that truth. We may not know how, we may not understand even when, but we make that head knowledge that our heart knowledge so that in the midst of that tough situation, we stay believing that indeed it will all work out. If He said we will get there, we will get there.

We make that fact our faith by believing that no storm can stop what God has promised. Faith is the translator of head knowledge to heart’s belief.

God is not caught unaware by the storm or the wind or the rain. He knew it would happen. He factored that in when He made the promise to you. His promises are not determined or deterred by the storms; they are true in spite of them.

Beloved, God factored it in. The unemployment despite Him promising that you would lack nothing, the heartbreak despite Him promising that He is with you, the threats despite Him promising that none would make you afraid – all of it has been factored in by God. He knew it would happen and yet He who honours His word more than His name also knew that He could make those promises to you and keep them despite all those negative factors.

With love, Faith.