Looking to God in Hard Times

Last week we hosted an online Bible study for our students. It was heartwarming seeing everyone from the safety of their homes smile as new friends joined our video chat. Our class covered Mark 4:35-40:

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall 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?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 4: 35-40 NIV

Our teacher Josh asked the student, “Was Jesus nervous or scared?” Students chorused back, “no!” As  we looked at this passage, we remembered that God is never surprised. He knows what is coming and will get us through the storms that we face in our lives. Right now we are experiencing a new kind of storm, but God has gifted us with time with family, shelter and the strength to get through this time.

We closed our Bible study the same way we always do, with prayer requests from students. Our list included health care and essential workers, family members, and our Pathways friends who couldn’t join us on our call. We reminded ourselves of Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

If you have any prayer requests, please email us at [email protected] and we will be sure to include them in our next prayer circle.