Many young children climb into bed with their parents because they are scared during the night. Young adults fear what their HSC or university results will be and worry about careers and unemployment. There is widespread concern about global warming. Older Adults fear blood clots after COVID vaccinations; their driving licence renewal tests and failing health. Everyone has some fears and often this is temporarily necessary; for example, we need caution crossing roads. However, some fear is irrational. 

How we deal with fear is the issue. Some people seem to brush fears aside and “get over it” while others seem stuck and even paralysed by fears. Why? What’s the difference? How might we live with a cautious awareness of dangers and, at the same time, live joyfully without anxiousness? Maybe our Bible readings give us the answer. 

Today, we have heard some small parts of the story of Job and the Good News according to Mark. There’s always a connection between First (or old) Testament reading and Gospel. Today the two readings we heard are connected by the subject of water (or sea). 

The people of Israel had a thing about water. They didn’t like the sea. Perhaps that’s why they named what we would call a big lake The Sea of Galilee! The Israelites thought that water was the domain of demons; a place for the evil one. In their minds, water was a place where God had opposition. So, the Israelites feared the sea and preferred to stay on dry land where they thought that they were in the security of God’s power. Israel was not a seafaring nation. The people believed that God was at war with the wild forces that ruled the sea. 

Job Chapter 38 gives God’s profound response to the questions of Job as to why God would allow a good person to suffer. In our first hymn today, we were asking the same questions that Job had been asking. Why God? God’s response is to ask, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements?” Then, in verse 8, there’s the important words that tie in with the Gospel story of the storm at sea when Jesus and his disciples are in a boat. God says to Job “Who shut in the sea with doors …. and prescribed bounds for the sea?” In other words, God is saying “who do you think has control of the sea?”

God’s ironic words “surely you know” remind us of how much we actually don’t know. This is a very sharp and purposeful lesson for us to never think that we know everything that God knows. We are being reminded that this amazing love that God has for us, and for everything that God has created, can be seen in the way the world functions and that God’s love gives meaning to everything.

Well now, what are we able to learn from Mark? Earlier in Mark we have been told about Jesus’ power in teaching; we have seen this power confirmed by Jesus’ defeat of the demonic forces that plague our human existence and make it hard for people to live the life that God intends us to live. 

This 4th chapter of Mark has had a number of parables on the kingdom. Last week we heard the parables of growing seed and the mustard bush. I really appreciated the way Desiree explained that Mark’s message of hope can sustain us against the darkness we encounter. The mustard seed inspires our faith, imagination, patience and endurance. 

This section of Mark finishes with story we heard today of Jesus and the disciples getting into a boat when the evening had come. Jesus wanted to leave the crowd behind and cross to the other side. A storm blows up. We know the story well and, in Sunday School, we probably have all coloured in pictures of Jesus in the boat with big waves about and storm clouds blowing overhead.

There’s a contrast between the behaviour and attitude of the disciples in the boat and the actions and demeanour of Jesus. The disciples are afraid. However, Jesus sleeps through the storm. Jesus simply is not anxious. 

It’s not that Jesus is unconcerned with the reality of evil or that he is uncaring about the fate of his disciples. Yet Jesus is not overcome with anxiety as the disciples are, because he has full confidence in the presence and the power of God to deal with the threats of the stormy sea. 

Jesus has taught that the kingdom of life and justice is a gift from God.  Having faith means accepting that gift and living accordingly. Trusting and living a relaxed, even joyful life without anxiety.  

The disciples in the boat show us that there is a subtle way of not believing. There is a subtle way of not trusting in the Lord. It is being afraid!  A life of fearfulness and constant worrying is a life of subtle unbelief. This unbelief is very subtle because it doesn’t seem like rejection.  Yet, in reality, it is rejecting the peace beyond our understanding that God offers.  Significantly, Philippians 4:4 gives us the formula for a life of peace. It says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.  

What I see in this story of Jesus and the disciples in a storm at sea is Jesus making it quite clear that being afraid is closely linked to not having faith.  Jesus says in verse 40 “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

If there is faith,…  there is no fear! 

Yes, it’s a tough world. Skyrocketing rental costs are forcing some people into homelessness. (Recently our daughter’s rent went up $100 a week.) The cost of living is rising and seems to be higher than we can manage. It was very relevant that in the first hymn today we sang “children are crying, hungry for food. People are homeless, lost and alone”

The media attention being given to the Tamil refugee family trying to return to Biloela reminds us of our good fortune in Australia and makes us aware that many of the big problems in this world are “out there” in other places. We certainly live in the “lucky country”.  

Because we are afraid of losing our present security and privileges we can easily overlook and refuse to accept the total availability of God’s protection. We can miss out on all that God promises us. Also, if we are insecure, we might not be as welcoming and generous as we might otherwise be.

The story of God’s power in Jesus stilling the storm reminds all of us that fear in the challenges of living a Christian life hides something very grave; a lack of faith! This Gospel story is teaching that our level of fear rises depending on the smallness of our faith. Less faith means more fear. More faith means less fear.

If there is faith, there is no fear of the difficulties and threats we inevitably face in this broken world. Although there may not be rest, with faith there is profound peace.

Our encouragement is in knowing that trusting in God’s amazing love for each of us is what gives us reason to have joy and courage to face the adversities and challenges of our lives.