Does God get weary of our prayers?
In moments of distress, do you sometimes wonder if God is aware of you in your circumstances? Many of us have uttered the urgent words “help me!,” or “please answer my prayer.” This scenario is portrayed well in Mark 4:37- 40 where Jesus’s beloved disciples, some of whom were experienced fishermen, were trying frantically to handle a boat in a terrifying storm as the Savior slept in the back. His disciples feared and wondered as we do, if the Savior knew how hard things were as they cried out, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
As the Savior did not mind being woken up during the storm and calming the seas for his apostles, He stands ready at our request to calm the seas in our lives and bring peace to our aching hearts as well. “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
The same scenario was repeated as Peter walked upon the water towards the Savior. But when Peter “saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him…and the wind ceased.”
(Matthew 14: 29 - 31)
Just after each of these situations, the Lord asked his disciples why they doubted and where was their faith? He was not chastising them for their pleas because those were indeed acts of faith. Rather, he was reminding them to trust Him and that he had always been with them during their difficult experience, so there was never a need for fear or doubt. It is the same for us.
He is in our boat! In times of hardship, our faith can feel stretched to the limits of our ability and understanding. Waves of fear and doubt can distract us, so we temporarily forget God's goodness and attentiveness. Yet we can hush our fears and strengthen our faith as we follow the Lord’s instruction: ”Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36). This can bring immediate peace when we need it.
Sources and suggested reading:
Christlike Poise/ Mark A. Bragg/ April 2023 General Conference https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/31bragg?lang=eng
Peace, be still/ Lisa Harknes / Oct 2020 General Conference https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/42harkness?lang=eng
Proverbs 3:5-6 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/prov/3?lang=eng
Therefore They Hushed Their Fears/ Elder David A Bednar/ April 2015 General Conference
