With all of the “pandemic” talk for the past 5-7 months (depending on where you live), scrolling through any social media it’s clear that people are very passionate about where they stand (myself included on certain topics). Many are also using this as an opportunity to compare the suspicious “pandemic” numbers with numbers being reported regarding other areas of importance (suicide, domestic violence, etc.). In no way am I diminishing the seriousness of what others have experienced in reference to COVID-19 because I know there have been a number of atrocities and injustices with COVID-19 (and the politics behind it) to blame.
Get involved with Thorn to defend children from human trafficking.
Call for help or get involved – National Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-8255.
Call for help or get involved – National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233.
Some of the posts on social media have been citing the overwhelming numbers of missing and exploited children; others on domestic violence, suicide, abortion, and the common seasonal flu. We’ve allowed ourselves to be distracted from many things that matter to fight the battle for things that… well, for things that matter. Many who fight against the rising numbers of children missing and human trafficking are up in arms about mask mandates. Imagine not seeing the face of a child in danger, mouthing the words “Help me,” because they are mandated to wear a mask? It’s a pretty serious situation, wouldn’t you say? And that’s in the top five of my serious situations that lead to distracting from other serious situations.
With all of this unrest, I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up unrest. While this can easily go in the direction of the unrest in Oregon, Minnesota, and any number of states where rioting reigns, I’m actually referring to lack of sleep. Did you know that 50 to 70 million Americans report that they frequently suffer from sleep problems? In the same article, it’s reported that over 100 thousand deaths can be attributed to medical errors due to sleep deprivation. And with COVID-19 being reported as the virus that should be feared above all others, do we really think it wise to further escalate the sleep deprivation numbers?
I may have started this post with a few political and social issues and an unfaltering underlying patriotic stance for returned freedom in America (yes, returned freedom), I bring sleep issues up because I have found the rest for the weary. Before you roll your eyes and return to your social media scrolling, I want to assure you that, while it has Jesus at it’s center, it’s a bit more than what you might think.
With the mask mandates coming out in force (5 months after the fact) and the research of the efficacy of mask wearing being dependent on which side you stand with, concerns abound. These concerns are so effective at increasing the sleep issues that plague so many Americans. Just a side note, people are at higher risk of sickness and disease when they do not get adequate sleep. Sleep is very important to our overall health… and Jesus knew this and modeled this well.
Scriptures are packed with resting in God, God providing rest for the weary, and even instances where Jesus rested during inconvenient times.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
This is a very common passage that promises rest; a promise that so many in America alone would love to believe in and receive. One of my favorite instances of Jesus resting was during the storm and I find so much to unpack in it – I’ll try to hold myself back a bit, and I warn you that it’s not entirely about rest.
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.'” Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)
Jesus recommended going to the other side of the lake. That, right there, should be a pretty obvious sign that they would arrive safely to their destination. But a storm came up. And the disciples allowed fear to take over. The account in Matthew 8:23-25 describes it as a furious storm. It’s unclear as to whether rain was present, but there was raging water from the waves, crashing over the sides, and the boat was being swamped. Sounds pretty terrifying. According to the account in Mark 4:35-41, there were also other boats with them. Not to veer off course too much, but that sounds like the emergency included quite a few other people. A pandemic is not just one state or group of people, but is inclusive of all (see definition here).
Waves were sweeping over the boat, and Jesus was asleep! Another bit of detail from Mark 4:35-41 has Jesus was sleeping on a cushion in the stern (the back of the boat), but can you imagine sleeping through a “furious” storm where you’re getting soaked from the raging waves that were crashing over the sides? The disciples were astonished that Jesus calmed the elements, but I think it’s pretty astonishing that Jesus was sleeping through it to begin with! How can that be? I don’t care how great a cushion it is – I don’t think I would be able to sleep! Let’s take a look at some verses in John 14.
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” John 14:11 (NIV)
Current events so closely resemble a furious storm; raging wave after raging wave, and it’s so easy to see that the boat is about to be swamped. Are we acting like the disciples, reacting in fear and, for lack of better words, completely freaking out? But Jesus didn’t freak out. He got up, calmed the storm, and then asked those with Him where their faith was.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:12-14 (NIV)
Where is our faith? Are we seeing the raging waves, about to have our boat swamped, and pleading with God to wake up just to ask if He cares about our well-being? Where is our faith? Are we placing our faith in the CDC, WHO, the government, and/or the media (aka fake news networks)? Jesus has promised that if we have faith in Him, we will do what He did and even greater! If I recall correctly, Jesus raised the dead (John 11:43-44) – that’s pretty extraordinary and I can’t think of anything greater than that.
“‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'” John 11:39-44 (NIV)
We need to trust God so much that we can sleep through a squall. That’s rest! But we also need to recognize that we are not powerless. I’m not talking about having a voice to stand in line to vote this November (you should if you’re a registered voter). I’m not talking about becoming an activist for a worthy cause (even though there are many). I’m talking about the power of God that lives in us. He’s given us the power and authority over the raging waves, the furious storm, and all of the events that resemble those fear-inducing squalls. Rest in Him and witness the wind and the waves obey Him.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
