When God doesn't seem to care at all

This is the second of a four part series based on Mark 4:35-41. 

This week's piece is on Mark 4:37-38:

Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?”

Imagine you're in a terrible situation. You're face to face with disaster, and God is doing...nothing. This is the situation the disciples find themselves in. Jesus had asked them to cross the lake and now they're caught in a deadly storm. They turn to Jesus and find that he's asleep!

They're so angry! "Don't you care that we are about to die?" The only thing worse than facing disaster is facing it alone, having been abandoned by the only person who could help. It's even worse when that person is possibly also the person who got you into the situation in the first place. Things have gone from bad to worse for the disciples, and they're angry and scared. They're following Jesus' lead, and Jesus is...asleep.

How many of us have been in a dire enough situation where we have felt like asking God, "Don't you care?" If you can imagine that situation, you can feel the fear and anguish of Jesus' disciples on that boat. They're cold and wet, possibly seasick, exhausted, completely out of options, probably already yelling, and Jesus is in the back taking a siesta. We can't blame them for being upset.

We have to remember, this is the path Jesus called them to take. He never asked them "Hey what do you guys think? You want to stay in for the night, maybe order some food, or do you want to get back in the boat and try to shoot for crossing the lake?" The disciples didn't just make their own plans and then ask Jesus to bail them out. This was his idea in the first place, and now they were faced with the consequences on their own!

When Jesus was on the cross, he quoted the Psalm where the psalmist asks "God, why have you forsaken me?" This is the disciples' chance to taste that experience. We can find a couple Psalms that discuss that kind of awful experience. Even the old testament prophets experience situations where it feels like they're on their own in the face of danger while doing the work God sent them to do.

The beautiful thing here is that the disciples grab hold of Jesus and are as honest as they are. It's visceral. "Teacher, don't you care that we're about to die??" We have to be like that. There is a point where religiosity can't hold, where we have to be honest about where we are. 

If you're in a hard place like the disciples were, and you are angry at God, or afraid he doesn't have you covered, tell him! Who cares if your friends or your pastor see that you're having a crisis? Who cares if the veneer of religiosity tears a little, and people can see what's behind the veil? Would you rather sink? Is it better to go down with the ship than to be honest and ask for help?

If this is you, have that conversation with God. Do it in front of everyone, if you have to. It really is that important to reach out to him.

Next week is about what happens when he answers us.