When Fear Is Real, Remember Who Is With You

Fear is a natural response to uncertainty. A diagnosis, a financial crisis, a broken relationship, an uncertain future — these things can be frightening. And as believers, we’re warned that following Jesus is not an easy path. We’re in a daily battle with our flesh, under siege of spiritual warfare, and some of us face persecution. 

Yet the Bible tells us over and over again, “do not fear.” 

So how are we supposed to respond when the storms of life are overwhelming? 

The story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35–41 gives us some insight. 

When Fear Overshadows Faith 

As Jews, the disciples would have been familiar with the Old Testament promises regarding the significance of God’s presence. In addition to this knowledge, we read in the first four chapters of Mark how they witnessed Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, and demonstrate His authority. 

They knew Who He was and what He could do. 

Yet when caught in an intense storm, their circumstances overshadowed their awareness of Who was sleeping in the stern. They forgot they were in the presence of the Almighty. 

We often forget this, too. 

We may know intellectually that God is with us, yet in the moment of a difficult circumstance, fear can make it difficult to remember what that actually means. 

It isn’t that we doubt the Lord’s existence or ability; it’s that we momentarily misplace our trust. 

A Different Kind of Fear 

Jesus wakes, speaks to the wind and waves, and the storm immediately becomes completely calm. Then Mark tells us something surprising: the disciples become terrified. 

Before, they feared the storm. After, they feared the One the storm obeys. 

This is reverent fear — a profound recognition of Who God is expressed through awe, respect, and submission to His power and authority. 

That’s what it means to respond to life’s storms with faith: recognizing the threat may have power, but Jesus’ power is greater and living within you. It’s by trading fear of the threat for fear of the Lord that we find the peace our Savior promises (John 14:27). A peace Paul described as “surpassing all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). 

Remember Who Is With You 

The point of this story in the Gospels isn’t to promise life will be smooth-sailing or even that Jesus will calm every storm (even though He does calm the one in Mark 4). 

It is to remind us of the promise and significance of God's presence. 

When the wind gets loud and everything in us wants to focus on the waves, the answer isn’t simply to try harder in the moment. It is to pursue the presence of Jesus through worship, prayer, and reading Scripture — practices that help us remember Who is with us in the storm.