Mark 4:38  “Teacher, don’t You care about us?”

It is possible for circumstances to cause us to question whether or not God truly cares.  When we are afflicted with a protracted illness; or at times when God appears to be oddly distant; and when heaven is silent; we may begin to question the watchful care that He provides.

Have you ever drawn the wrong conclusions about your circumstances because the enemy subtly convinced you to believe a lie about God, yourself or others? The statement that “God does not care about your struggle” is one of the most significant lies that the enemy can place in our minds and hearts.

When the disciples were in the midst of a terrible storm on the Sea of Galilee, they were almost persuaded to believe this deception. They were fighting for their lives in the midst of the storm.  According to Mark, A” furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.”

So where was Jesus?  Sitting in the rear of the boat, sound asleep with his head propped up on a cushion!  It’s so ironic!  Jesus was getting a good night’s sleep thanks to the waves that were rocking the boat like a cradle!

During times when your life seemed to be spiralling out of control, did you ever feel as though God was asleep at the wheel?  Just where is He?  Is He even concerned about what you are going through? The disciples had the same response.  “Teacher, don’t you care about us?” they asked Him after they roused him from His sleep. Can you recall a time in your life when you may have wanted to ask the same question?

Storms in life can make us wonder if God cares.  They provide great opportunity for spiritual attack and subtle lies which convince us that either God doesn’t really know what we are going through or He just doesn’t care.  Both are an attack on His character and Deity.

We know from Mark’s account that Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the waves, and calmed the storm.  “Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” (V. 39)

The disciples were filled with the same wonder and awe that overcomes us when God affirms His care in our lives.  Before you’re convinced to believe the lie that God doesn’t care about your struggle, do a little fact-checking of what He said.  Here are just a few truths from Scripture to consider:

1. God knows and understands what you’re going through.

Hebrews 4:15  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.”

2. God cares about your struggle.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”  (AMP)

3. God has the power to help you in every circumstance.

2 Corinthians 4:9  “… persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”