Once, while struggling with insomnia during a stressful season of my life, I recalled the image of Jesus sleeping during a storm in Mark 4:35-41. As I tried to imagine the scene, I was awed by how Jesus was able to sleep so soundly on a boat that was violently rocked by a storm. What was His ‘secret’? (He did have a pillow, but I believe it wasn’t the exceptional quality of His cushioning.)

Being fully God with omniscience and omnipotence, Jesus knew for sure that He could calm the storm, therefore He was carefree enough to fall asleep. At the same time, being fully human and a fellow son of God like us (Lk 3:38), it is also this, in His own words: “I know You always hear Me (Jn 11:42a), because I always do what pleases You (Jn 8:29b).” Meaning, Jesus had the full confidence that God will grant His requests whenever He calls upon Him in prayer. Today, do we have the same confidence in our God?

Twice in the gospel of John (Jn 14:14; 16:24), Jesus made this straightforward offer: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Yet, why do we sometimes find ourselves struggling to take Jesus at His simple word?

Reflecting on my own struggle, I realise I had an impression of God as one who was stingy about granting my requests. One who, instead, always preferred to give me things I didn’t want, such as pain and unbearable burdens. A God who cared less about my need for rest, and more about training and ‘roughing’ me up like a ruthless drill sergeant.

Yet, Jesus, being omniscient, knows we may feel this way about Him. He knows we can be discouraged in our prayers after what feels like an endless wait for our requests to be fulfilled. So, Jesus spoke the parable of the ruthless judge, who initially denied the widow’s requests but later gave in because he was irritated by her persistent pleas (Lk 18:1-8). What more God, who is just and loves His elect – shall He not avenge His elect speedily when they cry out day and night to Him?

(To be continued in Part 2. ⛵)