The NIV 365 Day Devotional
The Principle of Resting and Caring
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”Mark 4:35-41
When a terrifying storm convinced the disciples they were about to die, they forgot one important factor: Jesus was in the boat and had told them they were going to the other side of the lake (Mk 4:35). His word always comes to pass.
When they finally awakened Jesus, he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and everything became completely calm. So long as the disciples assumed control of their situation, Jesus rested. But when they cast their care on him and released control to him, he cared for everything and they could rest.
This remains true for every leader today. While we must take responsibility, we are never to take control. Only God is big enough to take control. The principle works this way:
- We care . . . he rests. God will allow us to mess up our situation.
- He cares . . . we rest. When we release control to him, we find peace.
Taken from the NIV Maxwell Leadership Bible.