A prior to clinging to Jesus in the midst of anxiety by Chelsea DiMateus, read by Liam

Martin. 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? Mark 438. We've all felt some

amount of anxiety in our life. My anxiety has often taken me to the story of the

disciples in the boat with Jesus. Mark 437-38 tells us, a furious squal 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? Picture this, while the storm was raging

around them in the ocean. Jesus was sleeping. Many might read this passage and

think, why would Jesus be sleeping in the midst of their fear? In the midst of a

storm they felt they were going to drown in? The questions of valid one, when I'm

sure we've all found ourselves asking, in seasons that looked like we might

drown too. Is Jesus really sleeping while we're facing anxiety? No.

As you keep reading the story in Mark 4, you'll see that Jesus woke up when the

disciples called to him, Teacher, don't you care if we drown? Certainly Jesus

cares about them, and I love that he awoke at this question. He made it clear

that he wanted to be invited into their anxiety. He wasn't oblivious to their

raging storm going on around them. He wasn't caught off guard by their fear. What he

wanted was to know they fully trusted him. The more I've been faced with

feelings of anxiety or anxious thoughts, the more opportunities I've had to

invite the Lord in and stand in the confirmation He is with me. I've watched

the Lord increase my faith. By not just quick-fixing my issue, but by calling

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