When Heaven Hesitates
August 7, 2025
Sometimes, the Bible reads like background noise. But this morning, two stories of Jesus stopped me mid-sip of coffee. Not new stories — just newly alive to me. If you’re willing, I’d love for you to sit with them, too.
“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!” - Mark 4:35-41
“but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” - Matthew 14:24-31
These stories show us something unexpected: Jesus doesn’t always calm the storm immediately.
So I began to ask…
What if Jesus doesn’t calm the storm?
Early in his ministry, Jesus knowingly instructed his disciples to sail into what would become a storm, where he then demonstrated His power over nature. Seeing His power, they believed and were terrified.
Later in his ministry, Jesus instructed Peter to walk on water into what was already a storm, where He then demonstrated His peace in the impossible. Jesus first commanded faith as he brought in the calm, but later, he commanded courage while the storm raged on.
When we first start walking with Jesus, our faith is simple, self-centered, self-seeking and desperate. He knows our weakness and extends his hand.
But as we walk with Him over time, faith deepens. It becomes richer—and more difficult. We’re called not only to believe in His provision of peace, but to worship Him in the chaos of life’s storms.
We are meant to worship, not only in the provision of peace but in the chaos of life’s storms.
In Mark’s telling of the calming of the storm, the disciples learn that Jesus commands even the winds. In the second Matthew recalls, “the wind was against them” and Jesus asked Peter to have faith enough to step out on raging waters in trust.
Can you trust the one who commands the winds when the winds are against us?
The disciples knew He held the power to calm the storm. They witnessed the winds obey at his command.
Here lies the great human difficulty: you know God can do it, but he withholds his power.
Jesus doesn’t give the miracle or the seemingly obvious good in your life.
His name is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and yet your child dies of illness… He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides, and yet your loved ones go without… He is the God of all comfort, and yet is silent.
You see, if God actually were limited in power (and if evil prevailed) we would not end up blaming him, because he wouldn’t be able. But the fact that we know He holds the power to calm, to heal, to change, to grow, to give miracles, to provide and yet refuses to do so when we cry out in agony…. These are the moments that make us question His goodness.
I have questioned His goodness.
I’ve wrestled with the question: What kind of Father denies His child? How can He be perfect when this thing has just happened? How can He be impartial if He heals one and lets the other die? He restores one and neglects the other…
When Jesus doesn’t calm the storm
Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic since the age of 17, shares in her writings her personal journey of coming to terms with the absence of physical healing:
“God permits what He hates,
to accomplish what He loves.”
I have come to know that God hates the suffering of his children. Jesus weeps with the sisters who lost their brother, knowing He would soon raise Lazarus to life just moments from their tears.
He weeps. He aches with you.
In Peter’s story on the water, I wonder what faith-filled response Jesus was looking for. Did he want and expect Peter to have faith that would keep him above the waves? Or should he have sunk unafraid? I love in the television series, The Chosen, how the writers put in their telling of this story, Jesus saying “Look at me,” like a mother to a frightened child. Just look at me.
Aim to the Heavens
When I have seen Jesus walk past my pain to pause for another’s, I cannot look away. I find myself looking at the waves, where I am filled with fear. But then, peace is found when I turn my gaze back to Jesus, and I cannot turn away.
Even my anger knows where to aim.
Oh my soul, aim to the heavens, where help comes from. Aim to the one who is always good. Aim to Him who raises the dead, but weeps with you in your loss. If peace is your longing, even in your anger, know where to aim.
It is natural to seek answers, reasons for why the pain is here. Perhaps on the other side of wanting, we will find what we were looking for. Perhaps His presence will be enough to quench our curiosities, because we will be too full to have hunger. But for now, in the hunger, in the unknown, in the storms that sink us, I invite you into a deeper trust, where God’s infinite wisdom is enough for you to relax, to have hope in the storm. When His purposes are hidden, find your rest knowing He is at work to produce steadfast faith within you.
Friend, even when faith feels like sinking, may you remember His hand is extended, His heart wanting to take hold of you.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
-Rachel
