He Slept In The Storm
Rest that does not wait for calm.
On peace that is not the absence of chaos.
The big idea
Jesus was asleep in the one place where sleeping made no sense.
Opening scripture
“Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said: Teacher, don't you care that we are going to drown?”
What does “He Slept In The Storm” walk through?
Asleep On A Cushion
Mark 4:38 · KJV
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
In plain English
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said: Teacher, don't you care that we are going to drown?
Detail Nobody Needed To Add
Mark mentions the cushion. It is the sort of thing you only include if you were there. A storm violent enough to frighten professional fishermen, and he is comfortable enough to be asleep.
Shelter
Psalms 91:1 · KJV
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
In plain English
Whoever lives in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
“Their question was not do something. It was don't you care. Panic usually accuses before it asks.”
A Peace That Guards
Philippians 4:7 · KJV
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In plain English
God can give a calm that doesn’t fully make sense. It protects your thoughts and emotions in Christ.
Peace Came Before The Calm
He was at rest before he stilled anything. The peace was not a result of the circumstances changing — that is what made it worth having.
Presence And Rest
Exodus 33:14 · KJV
And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
In plain English
The Lord said: my presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
Pray
Jesus, teach me to rest before the storm stops. Amen.
Write it down
What are you refusing to rest until it resolves?
Rest first
Peace that waits for good news is only relief.
Which passages does this journey use?
4 passages, drawn from Mark 4:38, Psalms 91:1, Philippians 4:7, Exodus 33:14. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 7 minutes for the whole thing, or 8 short sittings.
- Mark 4:38
- Psalms 91:1
- Philippians 4:7
- Exodus 33:14
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in The Habits of Jesus
All The Habits of Jesus →He Withdrew To Lonely Places
The habit underneath everything Jesus did.
Before Dawn
What Jesus did before the day could ask anything of him.
Interruptible
Jesus kept getting stopped, and kept stopping.
He Asked Questions
Jesus asked far more than he answered.
He Was Never In A Hurry
Urgency was not one of his tools.
He Touched People
Presence you could feel.