Scared of Tornadoes or Storms? What Jesus Would Say

Hey, Carpool Crew. Maybe you're listening to this in the car on the way to school or sitting at home where the sky is clear. Or maybe there's a storm in the forecast and you're already feeling a little nervous. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. All of October we're talking about: what would Jesus say about the things that scare us? And today we're taking a look at something that I think a lot of kids might have a problem with, and that is tornadoes, earthquakes, or natural disasters. Now, this honestly is something that scares me. This is something that I'm very interested to hear what Jesus would say about it. So let's take a look at Mark chapter 4, verses 39 to 40. Here's what it says: 'He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence. Be still. The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Then he said to them, Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?' Now, this moment, the moment where Jesus is calming the storm, is in Mark, and it happened on a boat in the middle of a gigantic storm. The disciples, Jesus's closest friends, they were panicking. The wind was wild. Waves were crashing, and water was filling the boat. They thought they were gonna drown. Now, remember, some of these disciples were fishermen. They had seen storms before. If they were scared, you know the storm was serious. And where was Jesus? He was asleep. That's right. Jesus was resting in the middle of the storm because he knew something that they didn't. No matter how scary it looked, he had the authority over the storm. And when they woke him up, he didn't just comfort them. He stood up, faced the wind and the waves, and commanded them to stop. And they did. That's the power of Jesus over weather, fear, and everything. If Jesus was riding in the backseat with you right now and you asked Jesus, 'What if there's a tornado or an earthquake or something scary coming?' I think he might say something like, 'I see what you're afraid of, and I want you to know nothing is too big for me. I didn't just sit with you in the storm. I can calm it. But even if the storm keeps going for a while, you're not alone. I am with you. You can count on me.' I want to tell you about a kid we heard from on Instagram with her mom about being scared of this. Where she lives, tornado sirens were just a part of her life, but they always made her heart race. Every time the clouds got dark and the wind picked up, she'd feel that mix of fear. And then one night there was a real tornado warning. Her family grabbed flashlights, took shelter, and waited out in the hallway. It was loud, it was long, and she was scared. But here's what helped her. Dad reminded her of that story in the Bible, the one where Jesus calms the storm. He told her, 'Even if the tornado comes close, it doesn't mean God left us. He's right here.' They prayed out loud together. They even sang Jesus Loves Me in the hallway. And afterward the tornado passed by, their house was safe. And even though storms still make her very nervous sometimes, now she remembers: storms may be loud, but God's voice is stronger. So what can you do when you're scared of storms or natural disasters? First, prepare wisely, then trust God fully. It's okay to pack a bag. It's okay for your family to have a plan. That's smart. But after you've done what you can, trust that Jesus is watching over you. Second, don't carry the fear alone. Talk to a parent or trusted adult about what scares you. They can help remind you of what's true and that you're safe. Lastly, look for someone else who's scared. Maybe it's even in your own family, and be their calm. You'd be amazed how God can use you to bring peace to others even in hard moments. You might not be able to stop a storm from happening, but you can still remember that Jesus is still in charge. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. So we're going into the weekend, and you know what that means. Don't forget to subscribe. Make sure you're getting those great weekend episodes. And if not, that's okay. I'll see you on Monday. Have an amazing weekend. Before you go, answer this question together. When something big or scary happens, what helps you feel calm or safe? I'll see you tomorrow or next week on Carpooling with Jesus.