Wissam Nasrallah
October 2024
The Lord of the Storm
In my August update, I emphasized the importance of cultivating a mindset of service in the face of a looming war, urging us to embody our faith through our actions. Now, as we confront the reality of conflict, with over 1.2 million people displaced—one-quarter of our population—we are left with more questions than answers about the future. Where does this leave us as individuals, as a community, as a church, and as a nation?
I have been reflecting on the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. This familiar passage has often been interpreted through a personal lens, focusing on our own challenges and the desire for Jesus to quell the storms in our lives. However, it is crucial to recognize that this narrative is fundamentally about the identity of Christ, echoing the astonishment of the disciples: Who is this man? “Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Jesus does not promise us a life devoid of storms. In fact, the disciples found themselves in the storm as an act of obedience, having followed His command to cross to the other side. In this, Jesus, fully aware of the trials that lay ahead, sought to practically instill in them the teachings on faith and the kingdom they had just heard in chapter 4.
Storms possess a unique ability to strengthen our faith by revealing who Jesus is and the extent of His power and the depth of His goodness.
However, the disciples’ immediate response was one of doubt: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” This response resonates deeply with us, especially in times of turmoil when God seems indifferent or farway. It is all too easy to doubt during a period of war, when we feel that we are sinking.
Yet, we are reminded through Scripture that Jesus faced the greatest storm imaginable—one that no human could withstand—so that we might navigate our own life’s storms assured of His unwavering love and care. When we look to the cross, we find reassurance: if Jesus did not abandon us at His most difficult hour, He will not forsake us now.
While we may grapple with the “why” of our circumstances, we can be certain that it cannot reflect a lack of His love or concern. Therefore, even amid uncertainty, we can find refuge under the shadow of His wings. Our God is the one who can command the storms of life to “quiet! Be still!” but who also gently reassures us “quiet. Be still”.
While the deities of this world may stand on the shore asking people to row harder or faster, Jesus is with us on the journey—powerful, omniscient, and full of love.
Thank you for praying. And if you would like to know how to help more, please visit www.bmsworldmission.org/lebanon-appeal for ways to give and more prayer resources. Your generosity can help local churches to show Christ’s love to displaced people in Lebanon by providing warm clothes, food and shelter when it’s needed the most.
Please pray for:
For peace in our nation and for an end to the conflict.
For the displaced who have fled their homes.
For the many volunteers at our partner churches who are serving wholeheartedly despite fatigue and anxiety.
For us as an organization (Thimar) that we may act in a manner worthy of our calling, reflecting Jesus in everything we do and that we may steward well the resources entrusted to us in this time.
For my family that we may lean on God’s promises.
In Christ,
Wissam Nasrallah