Faith: Seeking answers to the question: What kind of God is God?

A God who gets tired. That, my friends, is quite a picture. But it’s one of the amazing pictures hanging on the wall of the universe we inhabit. And, surprise, it hangs right there in the living room.

I’d have expected to see a Do Not Touch sign prominently displayed, but, on the contrary, a rather amazing placard posted nearby informs and invites us: Please Note the Question Scribed on the Back of the Frame.

So, before gazing at the front and center depiction itself, we reach up, take the picture off the wall, and, yes, we read on the back of the frame a question: What kind of God is God?

Beneath the query, another message: Please replace the painting/frame and take all of the time you need in viewing.

What an invitation! And now, we gaze at the deep, rich colors splashed across the canvas in a masterful portrayal of a fishing boat caught in a raging storm on an angry sea. Deep blues. Foam, brilliantly effervescent, highlighting the crests of the waves. Spray lifted across the scene on mighty winds.

Entranced, we can hardly look away, even as we feel the need to shutter our eyes to the roiling water and seek shelter from the sheer power of the storm. We fully expect the wind and waves to escape the canvas and frame, for if any storm could drown a universe, it would be this one. How could the artist have stilled his hand to paint layer upon layer over the loosed wrath of such a storm?

Oh, but never doubt that the mighty fathoms of the angry sea are shallow compared with the depth of the fear blown across the faces of the crew and passengers, save one, in the storm-ravaged vessel.

Our eyes, still forced open, are drawn to the stern of the tempest-tossed boat where, sleeping soundly on a cushion, is an utterly exhausted Jesus of Nazareth.

The story, we remember, is astounding but not new. What’s new is the sea-sting of the storm here in our faces. Yes, and we know what will happen as men staring into the abyss gasp out into the wind a desperate question: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Will he wake immediately? We don’t know. But we do know that he will “rebuke” the unruly wind and the rowdy waves, “Quiet! Be still!” And the calm will be his answer. After disciplining the misbehaving elements, he will also speak soul-searching words to the friends he so loves: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Even then, as the boat sails across a glassy calm sea, the story will not be over. Into miracle-blown minds will arise a tempest of a different sort and this question drenched in awe: “Who is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

No wonder this picture is hanging in such an auspicious location. No wonder we’ll need much more time to stare into its depths and peruse the brush strokes for more truth. We’ll certainly find ourselves drawn back to the question: “What kind of God is God?”

He’s the omnipotent God of the universe. He is the Father who gives all authority to his beloved Son. Look on and behold all of his power and glory and so much more.

Yes, all true, but from where I sit in the universe right now, I find myself losing my breath yet again as my gaze is drawn to the sleeping figure in the stern of the boat. His power is uneclipsed, and the storm’s might will be to him as nothing.

But for now, just look, just watch, just wonder. For centuries, if you have the time. Turn your eyes upon Immanuel, “God with us” so completely that even he knows the feeling of utter exhaustion because he cares so very much.

That may be the most mind-blowing and storm-stilling miracle of all.    

Curtis Shelburne writes about faith for The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at:

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