Just Give Me a Minute

Day 6 — August 27, 2018

By Missy Smith

The waves were roaring, the wind howling and the lightning was flashing in the darkness of night as the disciples became restless with the situation they were in.  It was a storm and here they were in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. The disciples became more restless as their concern grew for their safety. Would their small boat withstand the storm? Would they be thrown out of the vessel to drown? And where was Jesus, the son of God, when they needed him?

Jesus could help them. He could certainly tell them what to do or even calm the storm but he lay asleep. Soon one of the disciples cried out to him for help. Jesus awoken and with his very words, the waves stood still and the wind stopped. Jesus did and does calm the storm.

I often think about this story and become puzzled at the thought of Jesus sleeping while the disciples were frantic in the storm. I can imagine that they were possibly annoyed with the fact that Jesus was sound asleep when they needed him most. On Wednesday nights I often wander in and out of the children’s classrooms just to make sure everyone is ok. On one Wednesday I went into our preschool age group and Susan Evans, the teacher, had just finished telling this story of Jesus calming the storm to her class. Susan told the children to tell Mrs. Missy what they just learned. One little girl explained the story about the horrible storm. Then Susan asked a little boy to tell me what Jesus said when the disciples woke him up. The little boy, excited to answer said, “JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE!” Susan said, “What?” The little boy repeated and said, “Jesus told them, ‘JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE!”  We couldn’t help but laugh.

After processing what the little boy said, I had to think about our lives and how we often find ourselves in the “storms” of life. We ask God to help us. We cry out and sometimes it seems like He doesn’t hear us. However, Jesus is working on our behalf. He can make all our troubles stop instantly. But sometimes he may have other plans. So maybe we need to wait patiently and just give Him a minute to do what He knows is best for us. As we give him a minute, we should thank Him for what He is doing in our lives, even if it seems the waves will overtake us. Just give HIM a minute!  He has this. Have peace in knowing that truth and resting in the fact that He will take care of you!

“When I wait you strengthen my heart. Psalm 27:14