Trusting God when life doesn’t make sense-Peace Be Still

• Preparation is key. Just as Jesus prepared his disciples with parables before the storm, we should prepare for life’s challenges by consistently engaging with and memorizing God’s word.
• Storms are not always a sign of disobedience. Being in a difficult situation doesn’t mean you are outside of God’s will. Sometimes, our obedience leads us directly into a storm, but God’s purpose is to be with us and to teach us through it.
• Christ’s presence is a source of peace, not a guarantee of a storm-free life. Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, yet the storm still happened. His presence is what gives us peace and security in the storm, not a promise that we will avoid them.
• Christ’s peace is unshakable. While the disciples panicked, Jesus was sleeping peacefully. This demonstrates that Christ’s peace is greater than any storm. We can find peace by trusting in His power and care.
• Storms are opportunities for growth. The purpose of the storm was to grow the disciples’ faith and reveal Jesus’s power over nature. Don’t let fear prevent you from learning the lessons God is trying to teach you in your storm.

Icebreaker

What is the biggest, most unexpected “storm” you have ever faced in your life, and how did you navigate it?

The Preaching that Precedes the Storm

Scripture References: Psalm 107:29, Mark 4:1-2, Mark 4:35, Colossians 2:3

Summary: Before the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus taught a great multitude using parables. The text highlights four parables: the Parable of the Soils, the Parable of the Lamp, the Parable of the Growing Seed, and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. These parables prepared the disciples for the storm they were about to face, as their faith would be tested, Christ’s power over creation would be revealed, and their faith would grow.

Discussion Questions:

1. The document mentions that Jesus was the “best teacher that ever lived” because He used stories, called parables, to illustrate his teaching points. Why do you think stories or parables are such an effective teaching method?
2. Jesus’s parables about the Soils, the Lamp, the Growing Seed, and the Mustard Seed all had a direct connection to the storm the disciples were about to experience. What does this tell us about the way God prepares us for the challenges we face?
3. The document suggests we memorize Psalm 107:29, “He calms the storm, So that its waves are still”. Why is it helpful to have scripture memorized before a storm hits?

Application Questions:

1. Thinking about the Parable of the Soils, in what kind of “soil” is your faith currently planted? Are there “rocks” or “thorns” that are keeping your faith from growing?
2. How can you better prepare for the storms of life by studying and understanding God’s word?

Christ’s Plan May Lead You into the Storm

Scripture References: Mark 4:35, Daniel 3:17-18, Daniel 3:25

Summary: Jesus intentionally led His disciples into the storm, knowing all along what would happen . This challenges the idea that life will go well if we are “good”. The document makes a distinction between a trial and a storm, describing a trial as a prolonged test that builds faith and character, while a storm is a sudden, intense trial that requires immediate trust in God. It also provides the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were obedient to God and were thrown into a fiery furnace, where Jesus met them.

Discussion Questions:

1. The document says that being in a storm doesn’t necessarily mean you are outside of God’s will. How does this idea challenge or confirm your current beliefs about God and suffering?
2. The text differentiates between a “trial” and a “storm,” likening a trial to a marathon and a storm to a lightning strike. Can you think of a time in your life when you experienced a “storm” versus a “trial”?
3. The example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shows that even in the storm, God can be with you. How does knowing this impact your perspective on difficult situations?

Application Questions:

1. Is there a current “storm” or “trial” in your life that you’ve been wrongly attributing to a lack of obedience? How can you reframe your perspective to see God’s hand in it?
2. How can you “kiss the waves that throw you up against the Rock of Ages”?

Christ’s Presence Does Not Always Prevent the Storm

Scripture References: Mark 4:36-37, Mark 4:35, Mark 4:41, Colossians 1:15-17

Summary: The presence of Christ in the boat did not prevent the storm from happening. The disciples, who were seasoned fishermen, became fearful, demonstrating a lack of faith despite having just listened to Jesus’s teaching on the subject. Their lack of faith was the real danger, not the storm itself. The disciples eventually realized that Jesus had power over nature, and the document states that all storms in our lives are for His glory.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think the disciples, who were with Jesus in the boat, were so afraid?
2. The document says the disciples had nothing to fear because Jesus had promised they would get to the other side. What promises has God made to us that we can hold onto in our storms?
3. How can we glorify God in the midst of our storms instead of wasting the opportunity to do so?

Application Questions:

1. Have you ever forgotten a promise from God in the midst of a storm? What can you do to better remember His promises?
2. The document says that everything, even our storms, are there for God’s glory. What is one specific struggle or storm in your life that you can commit to using for God’s glory this week?

Christ’s Peace is Never Shaken by the Storm

Scripture References: Mark 4:38, Matthew 8:25, Mark 4:39, John 20:19, Mark 4:40-41

Summary: While the disciples were panicking, Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat, even though He was exposed to the storm’s elements . The disciples woke Him up and questioned if He cared about their well-being, to which Jesus responded by rebuking the wind and the sea, commanding them to “Peace, be still!”. The document highlights that Christ’s power is always greater than any storm, and He uses these experiences to grow our faith.

Discussion Questions:

1. The disciples asked Jesus, “Do You not care that we are perishing?”. Have you ever felt that God didn’t care about your struggles?
2. The document states that God is “big enough for us to say, ‘don’t you care about me? I need you to help me!'”. How can being honest with God about your doubts and fears strengthen your faith?
3. After Jesus calmed the storm, He asked the disciples, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”. Why do you think He asked them this question instead of just being angry?

Application Questions:

1. The document asserts that “it’s safer in the storm with Christ than in the calm on the shore without Him”. Do you agree with this statement? How has this been true in your life?
2. What is one storm in your life where you have been trying to handle it in your own strength? What would it look like to call on Jesus and rely on His power in that situation?

Day 1: The Preaching that Precedes the Storm

• Scripture Reference: Psalm 107:29, Mark 4:35
• Key Focus: The importance of preparing for storms before they arrive.
• Reflection: The disciples spent a whole day listening to Jesus teach with parables. The sermons about the soils, the growing seed, the lamp, and the mustard seed all prepared them for the test of faith they were about to face. Just as Jesus prepared His disciples, He prepares us through His Word for the storms we will encounter in life. We are not meant to be caught off guard. We can find peace by grounding ourselves in His promises now, so that when a storm hits, we are not left without hope. Memorizing scripture, like Psalm 107:29, can be a great tool to help us during turbulent times.
• Application Question: What is one specific thing you can do this week to better prepare your heart and mind for a future storm?
• Prayer Prompt: Pray for wisdom to seek God’s word and for a heart that is ready to receive and store His truths.

Day 2: Christ’s Plan May Lead You into the Storm

• Scripture Reference: Mark 4:35, Daniel 3:17-18
• Key Focus: Obedience to God does not guarantee a storm-free life.
• Reflection: Jesus told His disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side”. He knew a storm was coming, but He led them into it anyway. This challenges the common belief that if we are doing what is “right” or “good,” everything will go smoothly. Sometimes, our obedience to God’s plan leads us directly into a difficult situation. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrates this truth as well. They refused to worship the king’s idol and were thrown into a fiery furnace for their faithfulness. Their story reminds us that God is able to deliver us, but even “if not,” we must remain faithful.
• Application Question: Are you currently in a storm that resulted from your obedience to God? How can you find peace in knowing that being in a storm doesn’t mean you are outside of God’s will?
• Prayer Prompt: Pray for the strength to be obedient to God’s will, even when you know it may lead to a difficult path.

Day 3: Christ’s Presence Does Not Always Prevent the Storm

• Scripture Reference: Mark 4:36-37, Colossians 1:15-17
• Key Focus: Jesus is with us in the midst of our storms.
• Reflection: As the disciples set out, other boats were with them. A “great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat,” but Jesus was with them in the boat. His presence didn’t prevent the storm from happening. The disciples were terrified, but the real storm wasn’t the wind and waves; it was the “unbelief” in their hearts. They had forgotten Jesus’s promise that they would cross to the other side. We have the advantage of knowing that Jesus has power over all of creation. He created everything, and all things were created for His glory. The storms in our lives are for His glory too.
• Application Question: How can you remind yourself that Christ is with you in the boat, even when it feels like your world is falling apart?
• Prayer Prompt: Pray for the faith to see God’s glory in your current storm and for the peace that comes from knowing He is with you.

Day 4: Christ’s Peace is Never Shaken by the Storm

• Scripture Reference: Mark 4:38, Matthew 8:25
• Key Focus: Finding peace in Christ, who is peaceful in our panic.
• Reflection: While the disciples were in a panic, bailing water and shouting, Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat on a pillow. This highlights the stark contrast between their panic and His perfect peace. The disciples’ question, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” reveals their human frailty. We too can cry out to God with our doubts and insecurities, because He can handle the “messiness” of our storms. We don’t have to have it all figured out before we call on Him. He is the Prince of Peace, and His peace is available to us.
• Application Question: In what ways are you currently panicking instead of trusting in Christ’s peace? How can you surrender that panic to Him?
• Prayer Prompt: Pray for the ability to release your panic and find rest in the unshakable peace of Christ.

Day 5: Christ’s Purpose is to Grow Your Faith Through the Storm

• Scripture Reference: Mark 4:39-41
• Key Focus: The storm is an opportunity for our faith to grow.
• Reflection: After the disciples woke Jesus, He arose and commanded the wind and the sea, “Peace, be still!”. Immediately, the storm ceased and there was a “great calm”. Jesus then turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”. The purpose of the storm wasn’t to punish them but to grow their faith and reveal His power over nature. As a result, they were “exceedingly afraid” and asked, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”. They learned a valuable lesson about who Jesus truly is. Our storms are also opportunities for our faith to grow and for us to realize that He is always greater than our problems.
• Application Question: What lesson is God trying to teach you through a current storm in your life? How can you let your faith grow instead of allowing fear to take over?
• Prayer Prompt: Pray for a heart that is open to the lessons God is teaching you in the midst of your storm, and for a faith that is strengthened by His power.