Unexpected Examination: Trusting Jesus Through Life's Storms

A familiar passage from Mark 4:35–5:1 is examined as a theological lens on trials, fear, and faith. The narrative of Jesus crossing to the other side, falling asleep in the stern, and then calming a furious storm becomes a picture of how God allows examinations that expose character and cultivate trust. The storm arrives without warning; the disciples, though they had witnessed Jesus’ power, allow panic to displace confidence. Their cry—“Master, carest thou not that we perish?”—reveals a trust eroded by fear, and Jesus’ rebuke to the wind and the sea underscores his ongoing authority over chaos.

The text is read against everyday experiences of test anxiety and sudden trials: unannounced exams, unexpected leadership crises, sleepless nights. Such moments are reframed not primarily as divine punishment but as opportunities for formation. Distinctions are drawn between two kinds of fear— reverent fear of the Lord, which begins wisdom, and destructive fear that paralyzes and betrays trust. The disciples’ failure to recognize Jesus’ presence in their peril illustrates how external storms prompt inner turmoil, and how spiritual maturity is discovered when character is tested.

Attention is given to Jesus’ humanity—tired, asleep after ministry—and to the paradox that God can appear inactive while remaining sovereign. The calming of the sea demonstrates that what threatens life externally can be silenced by the Word, and the deeper question Jesus poses—“How is it that ye have no faith?”—shifts the focus from circumstance to posture. The account concludes with pastoral application: storms will come, but they are designed to grow faith; sleep patterns and fear responses reveal trust deficits; and the proper response is not merely avoidance of storms but a disciplined return to Christ’s authority and rest in his presence. The overall thrust calls for a faith that recognizes God’s presence in apparent absence and allows trials to become means of spiritual formation rather than occasions of despair.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Storms reveal true character Trials expose what has been formed beneath the surface; the disciples only knew who they were when the gale hit. A calm before a crisis does not measure faith—pressure does. True character is revealed and reshaped by how a soul responds when everything obvious screams panic. [47:33]
• 2. Fear and faith oppose each other Fear and faith are mutually exclusive postures in practice: one narrows vision and seizes control, the other opens to God’s sovereignty. To live in fear is to act as if God’s promises are uncertain; to live by faith is to act from God’s presence even when senses suggest otherwise. The text forces the listener to choose which inner law governs their response. [62:02]
• 3. Jesus rests yet remains sovereign The image of Jesus asleep in the stern refuses the false dichotomy between divine care and human exhaustion. God’s apparent rest is not abandonment but an invitation to trust in activity beyond sight. Power is shown not in frantic action but in authoritative word that stills chaos. [56:49]
• 4. Trials mature, not punish Suffering and sudden trials are framed as formative examinations, not chiefly as divine retaliation. They sharpen dependence, clarify identity, and reveal whether reverent fear or crippling dread rules the heart. Thus the aim of trials is spiritual maturity rather than mere relief from discomfort. [48:32]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [39:28] - Scripture: Crossing and Storm
• [41:28] - Unexpected Examination
• [42:38] - Exam Anxiety and Tests
• [43:45] - On-the-Job Trial
• [47:57] - Storms Grow Faith
• [46:01] - Positive and Negative Fear
• [56:49] - Jesus Sleeps Amid Storms
• [62:02] - Faith vs. Fear
• [64:28] - Call to Trust

Bible reading

Mark 4:35–5:1 (ESV)
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” 5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.

Observation questions

1. In Mark 4:38, where was Jesus located in the ship and what was he doing while the "great storm of wind" [40:44] was beating against the boat?
2. What was the specific question the disciples asked Jesus when they woke him up? [51:08]
3. According to the wisdom found in Psalm 111:10, what is described as the "beginning of wisdom"? [46:01]
4. After Jesus spoke to the wind and the sea, what happened to the weather conditions? (Mark 4:39)

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus was "exhausted from a full two days of ministry" [51:45] and was sleeping on a pillow. What does his ability to sleep during a "great storm" [40:44] suggest about his authority and his peace compared to the panic of the disciples?
2. The disciples cried out, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" [40:44]. How can an "outer storm" in our circumstances create an "inner storm" [51:30] that makes us doubt God’s character and care for us?
3. 1 Peter 4:12 tells us not to be surprised by "painful trials" [50:23]. Why is it helpful to view these moments as an "unexpected examination" [41:28] rather than a sign that God is angry or trying to pay us back for something?
4. Jesus asked, "How is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40). Since the disciples had already seen Jesus heal the sick and perform miracles [46:56], why did this specific storm still cause them to lose their confidence?

Application questions

1. A person’s true character is often hidden until it is "challenged" by a storm [47:12]. Looking back at a recent "pop test" or unexpected crisis in your life, what did your reaction reveal to you about where your trust actually lies?
2. It is often said that "fear and faith don't mix" [01:01:45]. When you are in the middle of a trial, do you find yourself trying to seize control, or are you able to rest in God's sovereignty? How can we practically shift from a posture of panic to a posture of trust this week?
3. Our "sleep patterns" can sometimes be a barometer for our level of trust in the Lord during a crisis [54:50]. When you face a situation that keeps you up at night, what specific truths about Jesus can you meditate on to find rest?
4. Storms are not always signs of trouble; often, they "come to grow our faith" [47:57]. Can you share a time when a difficult "examination" actually strengthened your relationship with Christ rather than weakening it?
5. The disciples were "fearful because they feel they had no time to study" [43:11] for the trial they faced. How can we "study" and prepare our hearts during the calm times so that we aren't overwhelmed when the next unannounced storm hits?
6. Jesus is never "clueless" about our situation, even when it feels like he is "sleeping on us" [56:49]. How do you handle the silence of God when you are crying out for help? What does it look like to trust his presence even when he seems inactive?