Originally published Nov. 9, 2016.

Mark Twain said, “I have suffered many things in life, most of which never happened.”

I love that quote. It captures the gist of worry. Most of us go from worry to worry, day in and day out, never able to relax because we always find something to be afraid of. Politics. The economy. Bad guys. Health issues. People who don’t like us. The list is endless. If you want to, you can always find something to worry about. But Jesus invites us to a different way of life – the way of faith.

Jesus was sleeping. His friends couldn’t believe it. They were in a boat and there was a storm and it was frightening. But Jesus was sleeping. So they shook him awake and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).”

We do the same kind of thing. The wind and waves are high in our lives and God seems to be doing nothing, so we panic and accuse him of not caring about us. But maybe Jesus is asleep because there’s nothing to worry about? Maybe God isn’t afraid because there’s nothing to be afraid of. The Bible tells us that Jesus got up (I picture him groggy and exhausted in this moment, like the mother of a crying baby at 2 a.m.) and calmed the storm. But then he said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). In other words, “Why don’t you trust me, after all I’ve shown you? If I’m sleeping, it’s because there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

In the same way, your father wants to reassure you that the storms won’t swallow you. Your life is safe in his hands. When you believed in him, your soul came under his protection. You have his undying love, his eternal life and his promise of a home forever. You can relax. You can stop worrying. This storm is an opportunity to exercise your faith. He’s got this, and he’s got you. Be true!

Greg Daulton is lead pastor at Mt. Rainier Christian Center.